Glucoamylases and methods of use, thereof

ABSTRACT

Described are methods for saccharifying starch-containing materials using a glucoamylase, methods for producing fermentation products, and fermentation products produced by the method thereof as well as methods for increasing starch digestibility in a ruminant using at least one of the glucoamylases described herein.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2018/078575, filed Mar. 9, 2018, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to methods of saccharifying and/or hydrolyzing starch-containing materials using at least one glucoamylase. The glucoamylases of the present disclosure can also be used as a feed additive for animals to enhance starch digestion. Moreover, the disclosure also relates to methods of producing fermentation products as well as the fermentation products produced by the method thereof.

BACKGROUND

Glucoamylase (1,4-alpha-D-glucan glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.3) is an enzyme, which catalyzes the release of D-glucose from the non-reducing ends of starch or related oligo- and poly-saccharide molecules. Glucoamylases are produced by several filamentous fungi and yeast.

One non-limiting major application of glucoamylase is the saccharification of partially processed starch/dextrin to glucose, which is an essential substrate for numerous fermentation processes. The glucose may then be converted directly or indirectly into a fermentation product using a fermenting organism. Examples of commercial fermentation products include alcohols (e.g., ethanol, methanol, butanol, 1,3-propanediol); organic acids (e.g., citric acid, acetic acid, itaconic acid, lactic acid, gluconic acid, gluconate, lactic acid, succinic acid, 2,5-diketo-D-gluconic acid); ketones (e.g., acetone); amino acids (e.g., glutamic acid); gases (e.g., H₂ and CO₂), and more complex compounds.

Glucoamylase for commercial purposes has traditionally been produced employing filamentous fungi, although a diverse group of microorganisms is reported to produce glucoamylase, since they secrete large quantities of the enzyme extracellularly.

Saccharification or fermentation may be carried out at low pH, as typically fermentation organisms lower the pH rapidly, and some lactobacilli can further lower the pH to about 3.5. In another aspect, low pH values will minimize the risk of contamination. However, the commercially used fungal glucoamylases have certain limitations such as low pH sensitivity or low performance/activity at low pH (such as, for example, pH below 6).

Glucoamylases that are active at a low pH in the presence of pepsin can be useful as a feed additive for ruminants. Enzymes for use as feed additives for ruminants are mainly fibrolytic enzymes, such as cellulases, beta-glucanases and hemicellulases (Table 1 in Beauchemin et al., 2004). A rationale for the development of feed enzyme products for ruminants. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 84: 23-36). Reports on starch hydrolases for ruminant uses are limited.

The digestibility of starch in feeds and feed sources is highly variable and dependent on a number of factors including the physical structure of both the starch and feed matrix. US Patent Application Publication 2005/0037053, published on Feb. 17, 2005, discloses the use of an enzyme having amylase activity and capable of degrading resistant starch in a feed comprising starch for monogastric animals such as poultry and swine. WO 2008/06881, published on Jan. 17, 2008, discloses the use of bacterial amylases in feed for ruminant animals of the subfamily Bovinae for improving milk yield, apparent digestibility of the diet fed, feedstuff dry matter disappearance, weight gain and/or Feed Conversion Ratio. WO 2015/128366, published on Sep. 3, 2015, discloses the use of bacterial amylases in combination with one or more proteases in feed for ruminant animals of the subfamily Bovinae for improving digestibility of maize and/or maize silages, in particular for improving milk yield, weight gain and/or Feed Conversion Ratio. Accordingly, there is still a need to increase starch digestibility for animals.

Accordingly, there is a need to search for new glucoamylases to improve low pH tolerance during saccharification and/or fermentation or to increase starch digestibility for an animal fed a starch-containing diet.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to methods of saccharifying starch-containing materials using at least one glucoamylase. The glucoamylases of the present disclosure can also be used as a feed additive for animals to enhance starch digestion. Aspects and embodiments of the methods are described in the following, independently-numbered paragraphs.

-   1. In one aspect, a method for saccharifying a starch substrate,     comprising contacting the starch substrate with a glucoamylase     selected from the group consisting of:     -   a) a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7,         or 8 or 9;     -   b) a polypeptide having at least 83% identity to the amino acid         sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7 or 8;     -   c) a polypeptide having at least 83% identity to a catalytic         domain of SEQ ID NO: 7, or 8;     -   d) a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of the catalytic         domain of SEQ ID NO: 9; or     -   e) a mature polypeptide produced by the processing of the         polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, or 3 by a signal peptidase or         post translational modification during secretion from an         expression host;     -   wherein the saccharifying is carried out at a pH between 2.0 and         6.0, -   2. In some embodiments of the method of paragraph 1, wherein     saccharifying the starch substrate results in a high glucose syrup. -   3. In some embodiments of the method of paragraph 1 or 2, wherein     the high glucose syrup comprises an amount of glucose selected from     the list consisting of at least 95.5% glucose. -   4. In some embodiments of the method of any one of paragraphs 1-3,     further comprising fermenting the high glucose syrup to an end     product. -   5. In some embodiments of the method of paragraph 4, wherein     saccharifying and fermenting are carried out as a simultaneous     saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process. -   6. In some embodiments of the method of paragraph 4 or 5, wherein     the end product is alcohol, for example, ethanol. -   7. In some embodiments of the method of paragraph 4 or 5, wherein     the end product is a biochemical selected from the group consisting     of an amino acid, an organic acid, citric acid, lactic acid,     succinic acid, monosodium glutamate, gluconic acid, sodium     gluconate, calcium gluconate, potassium gluconate, glucono     delta-lactone, sodium erythorbate, omega 3 fatty acid, butanol,     lysine, itaconic acid, 1,3-propanediol, biodiesel, and isoprene. -   8. In some embodiments of the method of any one of paragraphs 1-7,     wherein the starch substrate is about, 5% to 99%, 15% to 50% or     40-99% dry solid (DS). -   9. In some embodiments of the method of any one of paragraphs 1-8,     wherein the starch substrate is selected from wheat, barley, corn,     rye, rice, sorghum, bran, cassava, milo, millet, potato, sweet     potato, tapioca, and any combination thereof. -   10. In some embodiments of the method of any one of paragraphs 1-9,     wherein the starch substrate comprises liquefied starch, gelatinized     starch, or granular starch. -   11. In some embodiments of the method of any one of paragraphs 1-10,     further comprising adding a hexokinase, a xylanase, a glucose     isomerase, a xylose isomerase, a phosphatase, a phytase, a     pullulanase, a beta-amylase, an alpha-amylase, a glucoamylase, a     protease, a cellulase, a hemicellulase, a lipase, a cutinase, a     trehalase, an isoamylase, a redox enzyme, an esterase, a     transferase, a pectinase, a hydrolase, an alpha-glucosidase, a     beta-glucosidase, or a combination thereof to the starch substrate. -   12. In another aspect, a method for saccharifying and fermenting a     starch substrate to produce an end product, comprising contacting     the starch substrate with a glucoamylase selected from the group     consisting of:     -   a) a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7,         or 8 or 9;     -   b) a polypeptide having at least 83% identity to the amino acid         sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7 or 8;     -   c) a polypeptide having at least 83% identity to a catalytic         domain of SEQ ID NO: 7, or 8;     -   d) a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of the catalytic         domain of SEQ ID NO: 9; or     -   e) a mature polypeptide produced by the processing of the         polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, or 3 by a signal peptidase or         post translational modification during secretion from an         expression host;     -   wherein the saccharifying and fermenting is carried out at a pH         between 2.0 and 6.0, preferably between pH 2.0 and pH 5.0,         preferably between pH 2.0 and pH 4.0, more preferably between pH         2.0 and pH 3.0. -   13. In some embodiments of the method of paragraph 12, wherein     saccharifying and fermenting are carried out as a simultaneous     saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process. -   14. In some embodiments of the method of paragraph 12 or 13, wherein     the end product is alcohol, for example, ethanol. -   15. In some embodiments of the method of paragraph 12, wherein the     saccharified and fermented starch substrate results in a reduced     level of DP3+ and an increased level of DP1 compared to contacting     the same starch substrate with AnGA. -   16. In some embodiments of the method of paragraph 12 or 13, wherein     the end product is a biochemical selected from the group consisting     of an amino acid, an organic acid, citric acid, lactic acid,     succinic acid, monosodium glutamate, gluconic acid, sodium     gluconate, calcium gluconate, potassium gluconate, glucono     delta-lactone, sodium erythorbate, omega 3 fatty acid, butanol,     lysine, itaconic acid, 1,3-propanediol, biodiesel, and isoprene. -   17. In another aspect, a method for increasing starch digestibility     in an animal which comprises adding at least one glucoamylase     selected from the group consisting of:     -   a) a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7,         or 8 or 9;     -   b) a polypeptide having at least 83% identity to the amino acid         sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7 or 8;     -   c) a polypeptide having at least 83% identity to a catalytic         domain of SEQ ID NO: 7, or 8;     -   d) a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of the catalytic         domain of SEQ ID NO: 9; or     -   e) a mature polypeptide produced by the processing of the         polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, or 3 by a signal peptidase or         post translational modification during secretion from an         expression host;     -   as a feed additive to feed for an animal wherein said         glucoamylase (a) has at least 20% activity or at least 20%         greater residual activity at pH less than or equal to 3 in the         presence of pepsin or rumin fluid (e.g., pepsin-containing rumen         fluid) as compared to activity of the enzymes at pH 6 alone or         in the presence of or rumin fluid (e.g., pepsin-containing rumen         fluid), and (b) the enzyme works with pancreatic amylase to         increase glucose yield. -   18. In some embodiments of the method of paragraph 17, wherein when     the animal is a ruminant said enzyme is active in at least two of     three digestive chambers of the ruminant comprising a rumen, an     abomasum and a small intestine -   19. In some embodiments of the method of paragraph 16 or 17, wherein     said at least one glucoamylase is capable of hydrolyzing raw starch. -   20. In another aspect, a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide     sequence that has at least 80% identity to the nucleotide sequence     of SEQ ID NO: 4, 5 or 6. -   21. In another aspect, a vector comprising the polynucleotide     sequence of paragraph 20 operably linked to one or more control     sequences that control the production of the encoded polypeptide in     an expression host, and wherein said regulatory sequence is     heterologous to the coding nucleotide sequence, or said regulatory     sequence and coding sequence are not arranged as found together in     nature. -   22. In another aspect, a recombinant host cell comprising the     polynucleotides of paragraph 20. -   23. In some embodiments of the recombinant host cell of paragraph     22, which is a Trichoderma, Aspergillus, Myceliopthora or     Saccharomyces cell. -   24. In some embodiments of the recombinant host cell of paragraph     22, which is an E. coli, Bacillus, Streptomyces, or Pseudomonas     cell. -   25. In some embodiments of the recombinant host cell of paragraph     22, which is an ethanologenic microorganisms. -   26. In some embodiments of the recombinant host cell of any one of     paragraphs 22-25, which further expresses and secretes one or more     additional enzymes selected from the group comprising protease,     hemicellulase, cellulase, peroxidase, lipolytic enzyme,     metallolipolytic enzyme, xylanase, lipase, phospholipase, esterase,     perhydrolase, cutinase, pectinase, pectate lyase, mannanase,     keratinase, reductase, oxidase, phenoloxidase, lipoxygenase,     ligninase, alpha-amylase, pullulanase, phytase, tannase,     pentosanase, malanase, beta-glucanase, arabinosidase, hyaluronidase,     chondroitinase, laccase, transferrase, or a combination thereof. -   27. In another aspect, a feed additive composition or premix     comprising at least one glucoamylase selected from the group     consisting of:     -   (a) a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:         7, 8, or 9;     -   (b) a polypeptide having at least 83% identity to the amino acid         sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, or 9;     -   (c) a polypeptide having at least 83% identity to a catalytic         domain of SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, or 9;     -   (d) a polypeptide having at least 83% identity to a linker and a         catalytic domain of SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, or 9; or     -   (e) a mature polypeptide produced by the processing of the         polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, or 3 by a signal peptidase or         post translational modification during secretion from an         expression host; and/or     -   (f) optionally at least one mineral and/or at least one vitamin. -   28. In some embodiments of the feed additive composition or premix     of paragraph 27, which further comprises one or more of the enzymes     selected from the group consisting of a protease, an amylase, a     xylanase, and a phytase. -   29. In some embodiments of the feed additive composition or premix     of paragraph 27 or paragraph 28, which further comprises one or more     direct fed microbial selected from the group consisting of Bacillus,     Lactic Acid Bacteria and Yeasts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND SEQUENCES

FIG. 1 is a CLUSTALW multiple sequence alignment of TeGA, FraGA1, WcoGA1 and other fungal glucoamylases.

The following sequences comply with 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.821-1.825 (“Requirements for Patent Applications Containing Nucleotide Sequences and/or Amino Acid Sequence Disclosures—the Sequence Rules”) and are consistent with World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Standard ST.25 (2009) and the sequence listing requirements of the European Patent Convention (EPC) and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Rules 5.2 and 49.5(a-bis), and Section 208 and Annex C of the Administrative Instructions. The symbols and format used for nucleotide and amino acid sequence data comply with the rules set forth in 37 C.F.R. § 1.822.

SEQ ID NO: 1 is precursor protein sequence of the FraGA1.

SEQ ID NO: 2 is precursor protein sequence of the WcoGA1.

SEQ ID NO: 3 is precursor protein sequence of the TeGA.

SEQ ID NO: 4 is nucleotide sequence of the FraGA1 gene.

SEQ ID NO: 5 is nucleotide sequence of the WcoGA1 gene.

SEQ ID NO: 6 is nucleotide sequence of the TeGA gene.

SEQ ID NO: 7 is predicted mature protein sequence of the FraGA1.

SEQ ID NO: 8 is predicted mature protein sequence of the WcoGA1.

SEQ ID NO: 9 is mature protein sequence of the TeGA.

SEQ ID NO: 10 is wild type glucoamylase from Aspergillus niger, and the NCBI accession number is XP_001390530.1.

SEQ ID NO: 11 is wild type glucoamylase from Trichoderma reesei, and the PDB accession number is 2VN4_A.

SEQ ID NO: 12 is KZT67263.1 (NCBI accession number).

SEQ ID NO: 13 is XP_002475369.1 (NCBI accession number).

SEQ ID NO: 14 is SEQ ID NO: 1847 described in US20090325240.

SEQ ID NO: 15 is KZT09226.1 (NCBI accession number).

SEQ ID NO: 16 is SEQ ID NO: 12 described in WO2016196202.

SEQ ID NO: 17 is SEQ ID NO: 2 described in US20170314003.

SEQ ID NO: 18 is GAD95639.1 (NCBI accession number).

SEQ ID NO: 19 is SEQ ID NO: 23 described in US20170306309.

SEQ ID NO:20 is CAC28076.1 (NCBI accession number).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

All patents, patent applications, and publications cited are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In this disclosure, a number of terms and abbreviations are used. The following definitions apply unless specifically stated otherwise.

The term “comprising” means the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, or components as referred to in the claims, but that it does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. The term “comprising” is intended to include embodiments encompassed by the terms “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of”. Similarly, the term “consisting essentially of” is intended to include embodiments encompassed by the term “consisting of”. As used herein in connection with a numerical value, the term “about” refers to a range of +/−0.5 of the numerical value, unless the term is otherwise specifically defined in context. For instance, the phrase a “pH value of about 6” refers to pH values of from 5.5 to 6.5, unless the pH value is specifically defined otherwise.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used have their ordinary meaning in the relevant scientific field. Singleton, et al., Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d Ed., John Wiley and Sons, New York (1994), and Hale & Markham, Harper Collins Dictionary of Biology, Harper Perennial, NY (1991) provide the ordinary meaning of many of the terms describing the invention.

The term “glucoamylase (1,4-alpha-D-glucan glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.3) activity” is defined herein as an enzyme activity, which catalyzes the release of D-glucose from the non-reducing ends of starch or related oligo- and poly-saccharide molecules. The majority of glucoamylases are multidomain enzymes consisting of a catalytic domain connected to a starch binding domain by an O-glycosylated linker region of varying lengths. The crystal structures of multiple glucoamylases have been determined and described (see J. Lee and M. Paetzel 2011. Acta Cryst. Vol. 67 pages 188-192 “Structure of the catalytic domain of glucoamylase from Aspergillus niger” and J. Sauer et al 2000. Biochem. Et Biophys. Acta Vol. 1542 page 275-293 “Glucoamylase: structure/function relationships, and protein engineering”.

The terms “starch binding domain (SBD) or carbohydrate binding module (CBM)” are used interchangeably herein. SBDs can be divided into nine CBM families. As a source of energy, starch is degraded by a large number of various amylolytic enzymes. However, only about 10% of them are capable of binding and degrading raw starch. These enzymes usually possess a distinct sequence-structural module called the starch-binding domain that mediates attachment to starch granules. SBD refers to an amino acid sequence that binds preferentially to a starch (polysaccharide) substrate or a maltosaccharide, alpha-, beta and gamma-cyclodextrin and the like. They are usually motifs of approximately 100 amino acid residues found in about 10% of microbial amylolytic enzymes.

The term “catalytic domain (CD)” refers to a structural region of a polypeptide which contains the active site for substrate hydrolysis.

The term “glycoside hydrolase” is used interchangeably with “glycosidases” and “glycosyl hydrolases”. Glycoside hydrolases assist in the hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds in complex sugars (polysaccharides, such as, without limitation, starch). Glycoside hydrolases can also be classified as exo- or endo-acting, dependent upon whether they act at the (usually non-reducing) end or in the middle, respectively, of an oligo/polysaccharide chain. Glycoside hydrolases may also be classified by sequence or structure based methods.

The term “feed” is used with reference to products that are fed to animals in the rearing of livestock. The terms “feed” and “animal feed” are used interchangeably. In a preferred embodiment, the food or feed is for consumption by non-ruminants and ruminants.

The term “direct fed microbial” (“DFM”) as used herein is source of live (viable) naturally occurring microorganisms. Categories of DFMs include Bacillus, Lactic Acid Bacteria and Yeasts. Bacillus are unique, gram-positive rods that form spores. Types of Lactic Acid Bacteria include Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Streptococcus. Yeasts are not bacteria. These microorganisms belong to the plant group fungi.

The term “pepsin” as used herein refers to an enzyme that breaks down proteins into smaller peptides at a low pH from 2.0 to 3.5, i.e., it is a protease belonging to Aspartic peptidase family A1. It is produced and secreted into the stomach and is one of the main digestive enzymes in the digestive systems of humans and animals, where it helps digesting the proteins in food or feed.

The term “ruminant” as used herein refers to a mammal that is able to acquire nutrients from plant-based food by fermenting it in a specialized stomach prior to digestion, principally, through microbial actions.

The term “digestive chambers of a ruminant” as used herein refer to the rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum and small intestine (McDonald et al., 2011, Animal Nutrition (7th Edition), pages 156-191). The abomasum is the direct equivalent of the monogastric stomach.

The term “granular starch” refers to raw (uncooked) starch, e.g., granular starch that has not been subject to gelatinization.

The terms “granular starch hydrolyzing (GSH) enzyme” and “granular starch hydrolyzing (GSH) activity” are used interchangeably herein and refer to enzymes, which have the ability to hydrolyze starch in granular form under digestive tract relevant conditions comparable to the conditions found in the digestive tract of animals and, in particular, ruminants.

The term “isolated” means a substance in a form or environment that does not occur in nature. Non-limiting examples of isolated substances include (1) any non-naturally occurring substance, (2) any substance including, but not limited to, any host cell, enzyme, variant, nucleic acid, protein, peptide or cofactor, that is at least partially removed from one or more or all of the naturally occurring constituents with which it is associated in nature; (3) any substance modified by the hand of man relative to that substance found in nature; or (4) any substance modified by increasing the amount of the substance relative to other components with which it is naturally associated. The terms “isolated nucleic acid molecule”, “isolated polynucleotide”, and “isolated nucleic acid fragment” will be used interchangeably and refer to a polymer of RNA or DNA that is single- or double-stranded, optionally containing synthetic, non-natural or altered nucleotide bases.

The term “purified” as applied to nucleic acids or polypeptides generally denotes a nucleic acid or polypeptide that is essentially free from other components as determined by analytical techniques well known in the art (e.g., a purified polypeptide or polynucleotide forms a discrete band in an electrophoretic gel, chromatographic eluate, and/or a media subjected to density gradient centrifugation). For example, a nucleic acid or polypeptide that gives rise to essentially one band in an electrophoretic gel is “purified.”

The terms “peptides”, “proteins” and “polypeptides” are used interchangeably herein and refer to a polymer of amino acids joined together by peptide bonds. A “protein” or “polypeptide” comprises a polymeric sequence of amino acid residues. The single and 3-letter code for amino acids as defined in conformity with the IUPAC-IUB Joint Commission on Biochemical Nomenclature (JCBN) is used throughout this disclosure. It is also understood that a polypeptide may be coded for by more than one nucleotide sequence due to the degeneracy of the genetic code.

The term “mature” form of a protein, polypeptide, or enzyme refers to the functional form of the protein, polypeptide, or enzyme without a signal peptide sequence or a propeptide sequence.

The term “precursor” form of a protein or peptide refers to a form of the protein having a prosequence operably linked to the amino or carbonyl terminus of the protein. The precursor may also have a “signal” sequence operably linked to the amino terminus of the prosequence.

As noted above, regulatory sequences can be operably linked in sense or antisense orientation to the coding sequence/gene of interest.

“Promoter” or “promoter sequences” refer to DNA sequences that define where transcription of a gene by RNA polymerase begins. Promoter sequences are typically located directly upstream or at the 5′ end of the transcription initiation site. Promoters may be derived in their entirety from a native or naturally occurring sequence, or be composed of different elements derived from different promoters found in nature, or even comprise synthetic DNA segments. It is understood by those skilled in the art that different promoters may direct the expression of a gene in different tissues or cell type or at different stages of development, or in response to different environmental or physiological conditions (“inducible promoters”).

The “3′ non-coding sequences” refer to DNA sequences located downstream of a coding sequence and include sequences encoding regulatory signals capable of affecting mRNA processing or gene expression, such as termination of transcription.

The term “transformation” as used herein refers to the transfer or introduction of a nucleic acid molecule into a host organism. The nucleic acid molecule may be introduced as a linear or circular form of DNA. The nucleic acid molecule may be a plasmid that replicates autonomously, or it may integrate into the genome of a production host. Production hosts containing the transformed nucleic acid are referred to as “transformed” or “recombinant” or “transgenic” organisms or “transformants”.

The term “recombinant” as used herein refers to an artificial combination of two otherwise separated segments of nucleic acid sequences, e.g., by chemical synthesis or by the manipulation of isolated segments of nucleic acids by genetic engineering techniques. For example, DNA in which one or more segments or genes have been inserted, either naturally or by laboratory manipulation, from a different molecule, from another part of the same molecule, or an artificial sequence, resulting in the introduction of a new sequence in a gene and subsequently in an organism. The terms “recombinant”, “transgenic”, “transformed”, “engineered” or “modified for exogenous gene expression” are used interchangeably herein.

The terms “recombinant construct”, “expression construct”, “recombinant expression construct” and “expression cassette” are used interchangeably herein. A recombinant construct comprises an artificial combination of nucleic acid fragments, e.g., regulatory and coding sequences that are not all found together in nature. For example, a construct may comprise regulatory sequences and coding sequences that are derived from different sources, or regulatory sequences and coding sequences derived from the same source, but arranged in a manner different than that found in nature. Such a construct may be used by itself or may be used in conjunction with a vector.

The term “percent identity” is a relationship between two or more polypeptide sequences or two or more polynucleotide sequences, as determined by comparing the sequences. In the art, “identity” also means the degree of sequence relatedness between polypeptide or polynucleotide sequences, as the case may be, as determined by the number of matching nucleotides or amino acids between strings of such sequences. “Identity” and “similarity” can be readily calculated by known methods, including but not limited to those described in: Computational Molecular Biology (Lesk, A. M., ed.) Oxford University Press, NY (1988); Biocomputing: Informatics and Genome Projects (Smith, D. W., ed.) Academic Press, N Y (1993); Computer Analysis of Sequence Data, Part I (Griffin, A. M., and Griffin, H. G., eds.) Humana Press, N J (1994); Sequence Analysis in Molecular Biology (von Heinje, G., ed.) Academic Press (1987); and Sequence Analysis Primer (Gribskov, M. and Devereux, J., eds.) Stockton Press, NY (1991). Methods to determine identity and similarity are codified in publicly available computer programs.

As used herein, “% identity” or percent identity” or “PID” refers to protein sequence identity. Percent identity may be determined using standard techniques known in the art. Useful algorithms include the BLAST algorithms (See, Altschul et al., J Mol Biol, 215:403-410, 1990; and Karlin and Altschul, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 90:5873-5787, 1993). The BLAST program uses several search parameters, most of which are set to the default values. The NCBI BLAST algorithm finds the most relevant sequences in terms of biological similarity but is not recommended for query sequences of less than 20 residues (Altschul et al., Nucleic Acids Res, 25:3389-3402, 1997; and Schaffer et al., Nucleic Acids Res, 29:2994-3005, 2001). Exemplary default BLAST parameters for a nucleic acid sequence searches include: Neighboring words threshold=11; E-value cutoff=10; Scoring Matrix=NUC.3.1 (match=1, mismatch=−3); Gap Opening=5; and Gap Extension=2. Exemplary default BLAST parameters for amino acid sequence searches include: Word size=3; E-value cutoff=10; Scoring Matrix=BLOSUM62; Gap Opening=11; and Gap extension=1. A percent (%) amino acid sequence identity value is determined by the number of matching identical residues divided by the total number of residues of the “reference” sequence including any gaps created by the program for optimal/maximum alignment. BLAST algorithms refer to the “reference” sequence as the “query” sequence.

As used herein, “homologous proteins” or “homologous enzymes” refers to proteins that have distinct similarity in primary, secondary, and/or tertiary structure. Protein homology can refer to the similarity in linear amino acid sequence when proteins are aligned. Homologous search of protein sequences can be done using BLASTP and PSI-BLAST from NCBI BLAST with threshold (E-value cut-off) at 0.001. (Altschul S F, Madde T L, Shaffer A A, Zhang J, Zhang Z, Miller W, Lipman D J. Gapped BLAST and PSI BLAST a new generation of protein database search programs. Nucleic Acids Res 1997 Set 1; 25(17):3389-402). Using this information, proteins sequences can be grouped, and a phylogenetic tree can also be built using the amino acid sequences. Sequence alignments and percent identity calculations may also be performed using the Megalign program, the AlignX program, the EMBOSS Open Software Suite (EMBL-EBI; Rice et al., Trends in Genetics 16, (6):276-277 (2000)) or similar programs. Multiple alignment of the sequences can also be performed using the CLUSTAL method (such as CLUSTALW) with the default parameters. Suitable parameters for CLUSTALW protein alignments include GAP Existence penalty=15, GAP extension=0.2, matrix=Gonnet (e.g., Gonnet250), protein ENDGAP=−1, protein GAPDIST=4, and KTUPLE=1.

Various polypeptide amino acid sequences and polynucleotide sequences are disclosed herein as features of certain aspects. Variants of these sequences that are at least about 70-85%, 85-90%, or 90%-95% identical to the sequences disclosed herein may be used in certain embodiments. Alternatively, a variant polypeptide sequence or polynucleotide sequence in certain embodiments can have at least 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identity with a sequence disclosed herein. The variant amino acid sequence or polynucleotide sequence has the same function of the disclosed sequences, or at least about 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% of the function of the disclosed sequences.

In one aspect, the mature polypeptide is amino acids 17 to 567 of SEQ ID NO: 1, 18 to 569 of SEQ ID NO: 2 and 28 to 618 of SEQ ID NO: 3 based on the SignalP (Nielsen et al., 1997, Protein Engineering 10: 1-6) program.

The term “nucleic acid” encompasses DNA, RNA, heteroduplexes, and synthetic molecules capable of encoding a polypeptide. Nucleic acids may be single stranded or double stranded, and may be chemically modified. The terms “nucleic acid” and “polynucleotide” are used interchangeably. Because the genetic code is degenerate, more than one codon may be used to encode a particular amino acid, and the present compositions and methods encompass nucleotide sequences that encode a particular amino acid sequence. Unless otherwise indicated, nucleic acid sequences are presented in 5′-to-3′ orientation.

The term “coding sequence” means a nucleotide sequence, which directly specifies the amino acid sequence of its protein product. The boundaries of the coding sequence are generally determined by an open reading frame, which usually begins with the ATG start codon or alternative start codons such as GTG and TTG and ends with a stop codon such as TAA, TAG, and TGA. The coding sequence may be a DNA, cDNA, synthetic, or recombinant nucleotide sequence.

A “synthetic” molecule is produced by in vitro chemical or enzymatic synthesis rather than by an organism.

A “host strain” or “host cell” is an organism into which an expression vector, phage, virus, or other DNA construct, including a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of interest (e.g., an amylase) has been introduced. Exemplary host strains are microorganism cells (e.g., bacteria, filamentous fungi, and yeast) capable of expressing the polypeptide of interest and/or fermenting saccharides. The term “host cell” includes protoplasts created from cells.

The term “expression” refers to the process by which a polypeptide is produced based on a nucleic acid sequence. The process includes both transcription and translation.

The term “end product” refers to an alcohol such as ethanol, or a biochemical selected from the group consisting of an amino acid, an organic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, succinic acid, monosodium glutamate, gluconic acid, sodium gluconate, calcium gluconate, potassium gluconate, glucono delta-lactone, sodium erythorbate, omega 3 fatty acid, butanol, lysine, itaconic acid, 1,3-propanediol, biodiesel, and isoprene

The term “vector” refers to a polynucleotide sequence designed to introduce nucleic acids into one or more cell types. Vectors include cloning vectors, expression vectors, shuttle vectors, plasmids, phage particles, cassettes and the like.

An “expression vector” refers to a DNA construct comprising a DNA sequence encoding a polypeptide of interest, which coding sequence is operably linked to a suitable control sequence capable of effecting expression of the DNA in a suitable host. Such control sequences may include a promoter to effect transcription, an optional operator sequence to control transcription, a sequence encoding suitable ribosome binding sites on the mRNA, enhancers and sequences which control termination of transcription and translation.

The term “control sequences” is defined herein to include all components necessary for the expression of a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of the present invention. Each control sequence may be native or foreign to the nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide or native or foreign to each other. Such control sequences include, but are not limited to, a leader, polyadenylation sequence, propeptide sequence, promoter, signal peptide sequence, and transcription terminator. At a minimum, the control sequences include a promoter, and transcriptional and translational stop signals. The control sequences may be provided with linkers for the purpose of introducing specific restriction sites facilitating ligation of the control sequences with the coding region of the nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide.

The term “operably linked” means that specified components are in a relationship (including but not limited to juxtaposition) permitting them to function in an intended manner. For example, a regulatory sequence is operably linked to a coding sequence such that expression of the coding sequence is under control of the regulatory sequences.

A “signal sequence” is a sequence of amino acids attached to the N-terminal portion of a protein, which facilitates the secretion of the protein outside the cell. The mature form of an extracellular protein lacks the signal sequence, which is cleaved off during the secretion process.

“Biologically active” refer to a sequence having a specified biological activity, such an enzymatic activity.

The term “specific activity” refers to the number of moles of substrate that can be converted to product by an enzyme or enzyme preparation per unit time under specific conditions. Specific activity is generally expressed as units (U)/mg of protein.

As used herein, the term “residual activity” refers to the ratio of activites with respect to a substrate measured with and without incubation at a specific condition (such as, without limitation, altered temperature or alterned pH).

The terms, “wild-type,” “parental,” or “reference,” with respect to a polypeptide, refer to a naturally-occurring polypeptide that does not include a man-made substitution, insertion, or deletion at one or more amino acid positions. Similarly, the terms “wild-type,” “parental,” or “reference,” with respect to a polynucleotide, refer to a naturally-occurring polynucleotide that does not include a man-made nucleoside change. However, note that a polynucleotide encoding a wild-type, parental, or reference polypeptide is not limited to a naturally-occurring polynucleotide, and encompasses any polynucleotide encoding the wild-type, parental, or reference polypeptide.

The terms “thermally stable”, “thermostable” and “thermostability,” with reference to an enzyme, refer to the ability of the enzyme to retain activity after exposure to an elevated temperature. The thermostability of an enzyme, such as an amylase enzyme, is measured by its half-life (t_(1/2)) given in minutes, hours, or days, during which half the enzyme activity is lost under defined conditions. The half-life may be calculated by measuring residual amylase activity for example following exposure to (i.e., challenge by) an elevated temperature. The terms “thermally stable” and “thermostable” mean that at least about 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97% or 98% of the enzyme that was present/active in the additive before heating to the specified temperature is still present/active after it cools to room temperature. Preferably, at least about 80% of the enzyme that is present and active in the additive before heating to the specified temperature is still present and active after it cools to room temperature.

A “pH range,” with reference to an enzyme, refers to the range of pH values under which the enzyme exhibits catalytic activity.

The terms “pH stable” and “pH stability,” with reference to an enzyme, relate to the ability of the enzyme to retain activity over a wide range of pH values for a predetermined period of time (e.g., 15 min., 30 min., 1 hour).

The phrase “simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF)” refers to a process in the production of biochemicals in which a microbial organism, such as an ethanologenic microorganism, and at least one enzyme, such as an amylase, are present during the same process step. SSF includes the contemporaneous hydrolysis of starch substrates (granular, liquefied, or solubilized) to saccharides, including glucose, and the fermentation of the saccharides into alcohol or other biochemical or biomaterial in the same reactor vessel.

A “slurry” is an aqueous mixture containing insoluble starch granules in water.

The term “total sugar content” refers to the total soluble sugar content present in a starch composition including monosaccharides, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides.

The term “dry solids” (ds) refer to dry solids dissolved in water, dry solids dispersed in water or a combination of both. Dry solids thus include granular starch, and its hydrolysis products, including glucose.

“Dry solid content” refers to the percentage of dry solids both dissolved and dispersed as a percentage by weight with respect to the water in which the dry solids are dispersed and/or dissolved. The initial dry solid content of starch is the weight of granular starch corrected for moisture content over the weight of granular starch plus weight of water. Subsequent dry solid content can be determined from the initial content adjusted for any water added or lost and for chemical gain. Subsequent dissolved dry solid content can be measured from refractive index as indicated below. 8

The term “high DS” refers to aqueous starch slurry with a dry solid content greater than 38% (wt/wt).

“Dry substance starch” refers to the dry starch content of a substrate, such as a starch slurry, and can be determined by subtracting from the mass of the substrate any contribution of non-starch components such as protein, fiber, and water. For example, if a granular starch slurry has a water content of 20% (wt/wt), and a protein content of 1% (wt/wt), then 100 kg of granular starch has a dry starch content of 79 kg. Dry substance starch can be used in determining how many units of enzymes to use.

“Liquefact” refers to the product of cooking (heating) and liquefaction (reduction of viscosity) of a starch or starch containing grain slurry (mash).

“Liquefaction” or “liquefy” refers to a process by which starch (or starch containing grains) is/are converted to shorter chain and less viscous dextrins.

“Degree of polymerization (DP)” refers to the number (n) of anhydroglucopyranose units in a given saccharide. Examples of DP1 are the monosaccharides, such as glucose and fructose. Examples of DP2 are the disaccharides, such as maltose and sucrose. A DP4+(>DP3) denotes polymers with a degree of polymerization of greater than 3.

The term “contacting” refers to the placing of referenced components (including but not limited to enzymes, substrates, and fermenting organisms) in sufficiently close proximity to affect an expect result, such as the enzyme acting on the substrate or the fermenting organism fermenting a substrate. Those skilled in the art will recognize that mixing solutions can bring about “contacting.”

An “ethanologenic microorganism” refers to a microorganism with the ability to convert a sugar or other carbohydrates to ethanol.

The term “biochemicals” refers to a metabolite of a microorganism, such as citric acid, lactic acid, succinic acid, monosodium glutamate, gluconic acid, sodium gluconate, calcium gluconate, potassium gluconate, glucono delta-lactone, sodium erythorbate, omega 3 fatty acid, butanol, iso-butanol, an amino acid, lysine, itaconic acid, other organic acids, 1,3-propanediol, vitamins, or isoprene or other biomaterial.

The term “about” refers to ±15% to the referenced value.

The following abbreviations/acronyms have the following meanings unless otherwise specified:

EC enzyme commission

CAZy carbohydrate active enzyme

w/v weight/volume

w/w weight/weight

v/v volume/volume

wt % weight percent

° C. degrees Centigrade

g or gm gram

μg microgram

mg milligram

kg kilogram

μL and μl microliter

mL and ml milliliter

mm millimeter

μm micrometer

mol mole

mmol millimole

M molar

mM millimolar

μM micromolar

nm nanometer

U unit

ppm parts per million

hr and h hour

In a first aspect, the present invention relates to polypeptides comprising an amino acid sequence having preferably at least 83%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, and even at least 99%, amino acid sequence identity to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 7, 8 or 9, and having glucoamylase activity.

In some embodiments, the polypeptides of the present invention are the homologous polypeptides comprising amino acid sequences differ by ten amino acids, preferably by nine amino acids, preferably by eight amino acids, preferably by seven amino acids, preferably by six amino acids, preferably by five amino acids, more preferably by four amino acids, even more preferably by three amino acids, most preferably by two amino acids, and even most preferably by one amino acid from the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO 7, 8 or 9.

In some embodiments, the polypeptides of the present invention are the variants of polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 7, 8 or 9, or a fragment thereof having glucoamylase activity.

In some embodiments, the polypeptides of the present invention are the catalytic regions comprising the amino acids 17-470 of SEQ ID NO: 1, 18-472 of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 28-500 of SEQ ID NO: 3 predicted by ClustalX https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17846036.

In some embodiments, the polypeptides of the present invention are low pH stable and retain glucoamylase activity at low pH. The polypeptides of the present invention have shown low pH stability at pH values ranging from about 2.0 to about 5.0 (e.g., about 2.0 to about 4.0, about 2.0 to about 3.0, about 2.0 to about 2.5, etc). For example, at pH 2.0 to about 3.0, the polypeptides of the present invention retain most of glucogenic activity for an extended period of time at high temperature (e.g. at least 40° C., at least 50° C., at least 55° C., at least 60° C., at least 65° C., at least 70° C. or a higher temperature), and for example, for at least 4 hours, at least 17 hours, at least 24 hours, at least 48 hours, at least 72 hours, or even longer.

In some embodiments, the polypeptides of the present invention have better saccharification performance in comparison with (a glucoamylase from Aspergillus niger) AnGA, at a pH of about 3, or even at a pH of about 2, at a temperature range from about 30 to about 70° C., (e.g., about 30° C. to about 60° C., about 40° C. to about 60° C., etc.) with incubation time for at least 24 hours, at least 48 hours, at least 72 hours, or even longer.

In some embodiments, the polypeptides of the present invention can be used in simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process or low pH fermentation in comparison with the current commercial available glucoamylase products, at a pH of about 3, or even at a pH of about 2, at a temperature range from about 30° C. to about 70° C., (e.g., about 30° C. to about 60° C., about 30° C. to about 50° C., etc.) with incubation time for at least 17 hours, at least 24 hours, at least 48 hours, at least 72 hours, or even longer.

In a second aspect, the present glucoamylases comprise conservative substitution of one or several amino acid residues relative to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, or 9. Exemplary conservative amino acid substitutions are listed in the Table 1. Some conservative mutations can be produced by genetic manipulation, while others are produced by introducing synthetic amino acids into a polypeptide by other means.

TABLE 1 Conservative amino acid substitutions For Amino Acid Code Replace with any of Alanine A D-Ala, Gly, beta-Ala, L-Cys, D-Cys Arginine R D-Arg, Lys, D-Lys, homo-Arg, D-homo-Arg, Met, Ile, D-Met, D-Ile, Orn, D-Orn Asparagine N D-Asn, Asp, D-Asp, Glu, D-Glu, Gln, D-Gln Aspartic D D-Asp, D-Asn, Asn, Glu, D-Glu, Gln, D-Gln Acid Cysteine C D-Cys, S-Me-Cys, Met, D-Met, Thr, D-Thr Glutamine Q D-Gln, Asn, D-Asn, Glu, D-Glu, Asp, D-Asp Glutamic E D-Glu, D-Asp, Asp, Asn, D-Asn, Gln, D-Gln Acid Glycine G Ala, D-Ala, Pro, D-Pro, b-Ala, Acp Isoleucine I D-Ile, Val, D-Val, Leu, D-Leu, Met, D-Met Leucine L D-Leu, Val, D-Val, Leu, D-Leu, Met, D-Met Lysine K D-Lys, Arg, D-Arg, homo-Arg, D-homo-Arg, Met, D- Met, Ile, D-Ile, Orn, D-Orn Methionine M D-Met, S-Me-Cys, Ile, D-Ile, Leu, D-Leu, Val, D-Val Phenyla- F D-Phe, Tyr, D-Thr, L-Dopa, His, D-His, Trp, D-Trp, lanine Trans-3,4, or 5-phenylproline, cis-3,4, or 5-phenylproline Proline P D-Pro, L-I-thioazolidine-4- carboxylic acid, D-or L-1- oxazolidine-4-carboxylic acid Serine S D-Ser, Thr, D-Thr, allo-Thr, Met, D-Met, Met(O), D- Met(O), L-Cys, D-Cys Threonine T D-Thr, Ser, D-Ser, allo-Thr, Met, D-Met, Met(O), D-Met(O), Val, D-Val Tyrosine Y D-Tyr, Phe, D-Phe, L-Dopa, His, D-His Valine V D-Val, Leu, D-Leu, Ile, D-Ile, Met, D-Met

In some embodiments, the present glucoamylase comprises a deletion, substitution, insertion, or addition of one or a few amino acid residues relative to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, or 9 or a homologous sequence thereof. In some embodiments, the present glucoamylases are derived from the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, or 9 by conservative substitution of one or several amino acid residues. In some embodiments, the present glucoamylases are derived from the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 7, 8, or 9 by deletion, substitution, insertion, or addition of one or a few amino acid residues relative to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, or 9. In all cases, the expression “one or a few amino acid residues” refers to 10 or less, i.e., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, amino acid residues. The amino acid substitutions, deletions and/or insertions of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, or 9 can be at most 10, preferably at most 9, more preferably at most 8, more preferably at most 7, more preferably at most 6, more preferably at most 5, more preferably at most 4, even more preferably at most 3, most preferably at most 2, and even most preferably at most 1.

Alternatively, the amino acid changes are of such a nature that the physico-chemical properties of the polypeptides are altered. For example, amino acid changes may improve the thermal stability of the polypeptide, alter the substrate specificity, change the pH optimum, and the like.

Single or multiple amino acid substitutions, deletions, and/or insertions can be made and tested using known methods of mutagenesis, recombination, and/or shuffling, followed by a relevant screening procedure, such as those disclosed by Reidhaar-Olson and Sauer, 1988, Science 241: 53-57; Bowie and Sauer, 1989, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86: 2152-2156; WO 95/17413; or WO 95/22625. Other methods that can be used include error-prone PCR, phage display (e.g., Lowman et al., 1991, Biochem. 30: 10832-10837; U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409; WO 92/06204), and region-directed mutagenesis (Derbyshire et al., 1986, Gene 46: 145; Ner et al., 1988, DNA 7: 127).

Mutagenesis/shuffling methods can be combined with high-throughput, automated screening methods to detect activity of cloned, mutagenized polypeptides expressed by host cells (Ness et al., 1999, Nature Biotechnology 17: 893-896). Mutagenized DNA molecules that encode active polypeptides can be recovered from the host cells and rapidly sequenced using standard methods in the art. These methods allow the rapid determination of the importance of individual amino acid residues in a polypeptide of interest, and can be applied to polypeptides of unknown structure.

The glucoamylase may be a “chimeric” or “hybrid” polypeptide, in that it includes at least a portion from a first glucoamylase, and at least a portion from a second amylase, glucoamylase, beta-amylase, alpha-glucosidase or other starch degrading enzymes, or even other glycosyl hydrolases, such as, without limitation, cellulases, hemicellulases, etc. (including such chimeric amylases that have recently been “rediscovered” as domain-swap amylases). The present glucoamylases may further include heterologous signal sequence, an epitope to allow tracking or purification, or the like.

The present glucoamylases can be produced in host cells, for example, by secretion or intracellular expression. A cultured cell material (e.g., a whole-cell broth) comprising a glucoamylase can be obtained following secretion of the glucoamylase into the cell medium. Optionally, the glucoamylase can be isolated from the host cells, or even isolated from the cell broth, depending on the desired purity of the final glucoamylase. A gene encoding a glucoamylase can be cloned and expressed according to methods well known in the art. Suitable host cells include bacterial, fungal (including yeast and filamentous fungi), and plant cells (including algae). Particularly useful host cells include Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae, Trichoderma reesi or Myceliopthora thermophila. Other host cells include bacterial cells, e.g., Bacillus subtilis or B. licheniformis, as well as Streptomyces.

Additionally, the host may express one or more accessory enzymes, proteins, peptides. These may benefit liquefaction, saccharification, fermentation, SSF, and downstream processes. Furthermore, the host cell may produce ethanol and other biochemicals or biomaterials in addition to enzymes used to digest the various feedstock(s). Such host cells may be useful for fermentation or simultaneous saccharification and fermentation processes to reduce or eliminate the need to add enzymes.

A DNA construct comprising a nucleic acid encoding a glucoamylase polypeptide can be constructed such that it is suitable to be expressed in a host cell. Because of the known degeneracy in the genetic code, different polynucleotides that encode an identical amino acid sequence can be designed and made with routine skill. It is also known that, depending on the desired host cells, codon optimization may be required prior to attempting expression.

A polynucleotide encoding a glucoamylase polypeptide of the present disclosure can be incorporated into a vector. Vectors can be transferred to a host cell using known transformation techniques, such as those disclosed below.

A suitable vector may be one that can be transformed into and replicated within a host cell. For example, a vector comprising a nucleic acid encoding a glucoamylase polypeptide of the present disclosure can be transformed and replicated in a bacterial host cell as a means of propagating and amplifying the vector. The vector may also be suitably transformed into an expression host, such that the encoding polynucleotide is expressed as a functional glucoamylase enzyme.

A polynucleotide encoding a glucoamylase polypeptide of the present invention can be operably linked to a promoter, which allows transcription in the host cell. The promoter may be any DNA sequence that shows transcriptional activity in the host cell of choice and may be derived from genes encoding proteins either homologous or heterologous to the host cell.

The coding sequence can be operably linked to a signal sequence. The DNA encoding the signal sequence may be a DNA sequence naturally associated with the glucoamylase gene of interest to be expressed, or may be from a different genus or species as the glucoamylase. A signal sequence and a promoter sequence comprising a DNA construct or vector can be introduced into a fungal host cell and can be derived from the same source. For example, the signal sequence may be the Trichoderma reesei cbh1 signal sequence, which is operably linked to a cbh1 promoter.

An expression vector may also comprise a suitable transcription terminator and, in eukaryotes, polyadenylation sequences operably linked to the DNA sequence encoding a glucoamylase. Termination and polyadenylation sequences may suitably be derived from the same sources as the promoter.

The vector may also comprise a selectable marker, e.g., a gene the product of which complements a defect in the isolated host cell, such as the dal genes from B. subtilis or B. licheniformis, or a gene that confers antibiotic resistance such as, e.g., ampicillin, kanamycin, chloramphenicol or tetracycline resistance. Furthermore, the vector may comprise Aspergillus selection markers such as amdS, argB, and niaD a marker giving rise to hygromycin resistance, or the selection may be accomplished by co-transformation, such as known in the art. See e.g., Published International PCT Application WO 91/17243.

Intracellular expression may be advantageous in some respects, e.g., when using certain bacteria or fungi as host cells to produce large amounts of alpha-glucosidase for subsequent enrichment or purification. Alternatively, extracellular secretion of glucoamylase into the culture medium can also be used to make a cultured cell material comprising the isolated glucoamylase.

The procedures used to ligate the DNA construct encoding a glucoamylase, the promoter, terminator and other elements, respectively, and to insert them into suitable vectors containing the information necessary for replication, are known to persons skilled in the art and readily available. See, e.g., Sambrook et al., MOLECULAR CLONING: A LABORATORY MANUAL, 2^(nd) ed., Cold Spring Harbor, 1989, and 3^(rd) ed., 2001.

An isolated cell, either comprising a DNA construct or an expression vector, is advantageously used as a host cell in the recombinant production of a glucoamylase. The cell may be transformed with the DNA construct encoding the enzyme, conveniently by integrating the DNA construct (in one or more copies) in the host chromosome. This integration is generally considered to be an advantage, as the DNA sequence is more likely to be stably maintained in the cell. Integration of the DNA constructs into the host chromosome may be performed according to conventional methods, e.g., by homologous or heterologous recombination. Alternatively, the cell may be transformed with an expression vector in connection with the different types of host cells.

Examples of suitable bacterial host organisms are Gram positive bacterial species such as Bacillaceae including Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus lentus, Bacillus brevis, Geobacillus (formerly Bacillus) stearothermophilus, Bacillus alkalophilus, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus lautus, Bacillus megaterium, and Bacillus thuringiensis; Streptomyces species such as Streptomyces murinus; lactic acid bacterial species including Lactococcus sp. such as Lactococcus lactis; Lactobacillus sp. including Lactobacillus reuteri; Leuconostoc sp.; Pediococcus sp.; and Streptococcus sp. Alternatively, strains of a Gram negative bacterial species belonging to Enterobacteriaceae including E. coli, or to Pseudomonadaceae can be selected as the host organism.

A suitable yeast host organism can be selected from the biotechnologically relevant yeasts species such as but not limited to yeast species such as Pichia sp., Hansenula sp., or Kluyveromyces, Yarrowinia, Schizosaccharomyces species or a species of Saccharomyces, including Saccharomyces cerevisiae or a species belonging to Schizosaccharomyces such as, for example, S. pombe species. A strain of the methylotrophic yeast species, Pichia pastoris, can be used as the host organism. Alternatively, the host organism can be a Hansenula species.

Suitable host organisms among filamentous fungi include species of Aspergillus, e.g., Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus tubigensis, Aspergillus awamori, or Aspergillus nidulans. Alternatively, strains of a Fusarium species, e.g., Fusarium oxysporum or of a Rhizomucor species such as Rhizomucor miehei can be used as the host organism. Other suitable strains include Thermomyces and Mucor species. In addition, Trichoderma sp. can be used as a host. A glucoamylase expressed by a fungal host cell can be glycosylated, i.e., will comprise a glycosyl moiety. The glycosylation pattern can be the same or different as present in the wild-type glucoamylase. The type and/or degree of glycosylation may impart changes in enzymatic and/or biochemical properties.

It is advantageous to delete genes from expression hosts, where the gene deficiency can be cured by the transformed expression vector. Known methods may be used to obtain a fungal host cell having one or more inactivated genes. Any gene from a Trichoderma sp. or other filamentous fungal host that has been cloned can be deleted, for example, cbh1, cbh2, egl1, and egl2 genes. Gene deletion may be accomplished by inserting a form of the desired gene to be inactivated into a plasmid by methods known in the art.

Introduction of a DNA construct or vector into a host cell includes techniques such as transformation; electroporation; nuclear microinjection; transduction; transfection, e.g., lipofection mediated and DEAE-Dextrin mediated transfection; incubation with calcium phosphate DNA precipitate; high velocity bombardment with DNA-coated microprojectiles; and protoplast fusion. General transformation techniques are known in the art. See, e.g., Sambrook et al. (2001), supra. The expression of heterologous protein in Trichoderma is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,725. Reference is also made to Cao et al. (2000) Science 9:991-1001 for transformation of Aspergillus strains. Genetically stable transformants can be constructed with vector systems whereby the nucleic acid encoding an alpha-glucosidase is stably integrated into a host cell chromosome. Transformants are then selected and purified by known techniques.

A method of producing a glucoamylase may comprise cultivating a host cell under conditions conducive to the production of the enzyme and recovering the enzyme from the cells and/or culture medium.

The medium used to cultivate the cells may be any conventional medium suitable for growing the host cell and obtaining expression of a glucoamylase polypeptide. Suitable media and media components are available from commercial suppliers or may be prepared according to published recipes (e.g., as described in catalogues of the American Type Culture Collection).

Any of the fermentation methods well known in the art can suitably used to ferment the transformed or the derivative fungal strain as described above. In some embodiments, fungal cells are grown under batch or continuous fermentation conditions.

Separation and concentration techniques are known in the art and conventional methods can be used to prepare a concentrated solution or broth comprising a glucoamylase polypeptide of the invention.

After fermentation, a fermentation broth is obtained, the microbial cells and various suspended solids, including residual raw fermentation materials, are removed by conventional separation techniques in order to obtain a glucoamylase solution. Filtration, centrifugation, microfiltration, rotary vacuum drum filtration, ultrafiltration, centrifugation followed by ultra-filtration, extraction, or chromatography, or the like, are generally used.

It may at times be desirable to concentrate a solution or broth comprising a glucoamylase polypeptide to optimize recovery. Use of un-concentrated solutions or broth would typically increase incubation time in order to collect the enriched or purified enzyme precipitate.

The present invention also relates to compositions comprising a polypeptide of the present invention. In some embodiments, a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having preferably at least 83%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, and even at least 99%, amino acid sequence identity to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, or 9, and having glucoamylase activity can also be used in the enzyme composition. Preferably, the compositions are formulated to provide desirable characteristics such as low color, low odor and acceptable storage stability. polypeptides

The composition may comprise a polypeptide of the present invention as the major enzymatic component, e.g., a mono-component composition. Alternatively, the composition may comprise multiple enzymatic activities, such as an aminopeptidase, amylase, carbohydrase, carboxypeptidase, catalase, cellulase, chitinase, cutinase, cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase, deoxyribonuclease, esterase, alpha-galactosidase, beta-galactosidase, alpha-glucosidase, beta-glucosidase, beta-amylase, isoamylase, haloperoxidase, invertase, laccase, lipase, lysozyme, mannosidase, oxidase, pectinolytic enzyme, peptidoglutaminase, peroxidase, phytase, polyphenoloxidase, proteolytic enzyme, pullulanase, ribonuclease, transglutaminase, xylanase or a combination thereof, which may be added in effective amounts well known to the person skilled in the art.

The polypeptide compositions may be prepared in accordance with methods known in the art and may be in the form of a liquid or a dry composition. For instance, the compositions comprising the present glucoamylases may be aqueous or non-aqueous formulations, granules, powders, gels, slurries, pastes, etc., which may further comprise any one or more of the additional enzymes listed, herein, along with buffers, salts, preservatives, water, co-solvents, surfactants, and the like. Such compositions may work in combination with endogenous enzymes or other ingredients already present in a slurry, water bath, washing machine, food or drink product, etc, for example, endogenous plant (including algal) enzymes, residual enzymes from a prior processing step, and the like. The polypeptide to be included in the composition may be stabilized in accordance with methods known in the art.

The composition may be cells expressing the polypeptide, including cells capable of producing a product from fermentation. Such cells may be provided in a cream or in dry form along with suitable stabilizers. Such cells may further express additional polypeptides, such as those mentioned, above.

Examples are given below of preferred uses of the polypeptides or compositions of the invention. The dosage of the polypeptide composition of the invention and other conditions under which the composition is used may be determined on the basis of methods known in the art.

The present invention is also directed to use of a polypeptide or composition of the present invention in a liquefaction, a saccharification and/or a fermentation process. The polypeptide or composition may be used in a single process, for example, in a liquefaction process, a saccharification process, or a fermentation process. The polypeptide or composition may also be used in a combination of processes for example in a liquefaction and saccharification process, in a liquefaction and fermentation process, or in a saccharification and fermentation process, preferably in relation to starch conversion.

The liquefied starch may be saccharified into a syrup rich in lower DP (e.g., DP1+DP2) saccharides, using alpha-amylases and glucoamylases, optionally in the presence of another enzyme(s). The exact composition of the products of saccharification depends on the combination of enzymes used, as well as the type of starch processed. Advantageously, the syrup obtainable using the provided glucoamylases may contain a weight percent of DP2 of the total oligosaccharides in the saccharified starch exceeding 30%, e.g., 45%-65% or 55%-65%. The weight percent of (DP1+DP2) in the saccharified starch may exceed about 70%, e.g., 75%-85% or 80%-85%.

Whereas liquefaction is generally run as a continuous process, saccharification is often conducted as a batch process. Saccharification conditions are dependent upon the nature of the liquefact and type of enzymes available. In some cases, a saccharification process may involve temperatures of about 60-65° C. and a pH of about 4.0-4.5, e.g., pH 4.3. Saccharification may be performed, for example, at a temperature between about 40° C., about 50° C., or about 55° C. to about 60° C. or about 65° C., necessitating cooling of the liquefact. The pH may also be adjusted as needed. Saccharification is normally conducted in stirred tanks, which may take several hours to fill or empty. Enzymes typically are added either at a fixed ratio to dried solids, as the tanks are filled, or added as a single dose at the commencement of the filling stage. A saccharification reaction to make a syrup typically is run over about 24-72 hours, for example, 24-48 hours. However, it is common only to do a pre-saccharification of typically 40-90 minutes at a temperature between 30-65° C., typically about 60° C., followed by complete saccharification in a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF). In one embodiment, a process of the invention includes pre-saccharifying starch-containing material before simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process. The pre-saccharification can be carried out at a high temperature (for example, 50-85° C., preferably 60-75° C.) before moving into SSF. Preferredly, saccharification optimally is conducted at a higher temperature range of about 30° C. to about 75° C., e.g., 45° C.-75° C. or 50° C.-75° C. By conducting the saccharification process at higher temperatures, the process can be carried out in a shorter period of time or alternatively the process can be carried out using lower enzyme dosage. Furthermore, the risk of microbial contamination is reduced when carrying the liquefaction and/or saccharification process at higher temperature.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the liquefaction and/or saccharification includes sequentially or simultaneously performed liquefaction and saccharification processes.

The soluble starch hydrolysate, particularly a glucose rich syrup, can be fermented by contacting the starch hydrolysate with a fermenting organism typically at a temperature around 32° C., such as from 30° C. to 35° C. “Fermenting organism” refers to any organism, including bacterial and fungal organisms, suitable for use in a fermentation process and capable of producing desired a fermentation product. Especially suitable fermenting organisms are able to ferment, i.e., convert, sugars, such as glucose or maltose, directly or indirectly into the desired fermentation product. Examples of fermenting organisms include yeast, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and bacteria, e.g., Zymomonas mobilis, expressing alcohol dehydrogenase and pyruvate decarboxylase. The ethanologenic microorganism can express xylose reductase and xylitol dehydrogenase, which convert xylose to xylulose. Improved strains of ethanologenic microorganisms, which can withstand higher temperatures, for example, are known in the art and can be used. See Liu et al. (2011) Sheng Wu Gong Cheng Xue Bao 27:1049-56. Commercially available yeast includes, e.g., Red Star(™)/Lesaffre Ethanol Red (available from Red Star/Lesaffre, USA) FALI (available from Fleischmann's Yeast, a division of Burns Philp Food Inc., USA), SUPERSTART (available from Alltech), GERT STRAND (available from Gert Strand AB, Sweden), SYNERXIA® ADY (available from DuPont), SYNERXIA® THRIVE (available from DuPont), FERMIOL (available from DSM Specialties). The temperature and pH of the fermentation will depend upon the fermenting organism. Microorganisms that produce other metabolites, such as citric acid and lactic acid, by fermentation are also known in the art. See, e.g., Papagianni (2007) Biotechnol. Adv. 25:244-63; John et al. (2009) Biotechnol. Adv. 27:145-52.

The saccharification and fermentation processes may be carried out as an SSF process. An SSF process can be conducted with fungal cells that express and secrete glucoamylase continuously throughout SSF. The fungal cells expressing glucoamylase also can be the fermenting microorganism, e.g., an ethanologenic microorganism. Ethanol production thus can be carried out using a fungal cell that expresses sufficient glucoamylase so that less or no enzyme has to be added exogenously. The fungal host cell can be from an appropriately engineered fungal strain. Fungal host cells that express and secrete other enzymes, in addition to glucoamylase, also can be used. Such cells may express amylase and/or a pullulanase, phytase, alpha-glucosidase, isoamylase, beta-amylase cellulase, xylanase, other hemicellulases, protease, beta-glucosidase, pectinase, esterase, redox enzymes, transferase, or other enzymes. Fermentation may be followed by subsequent recovery of ethanol.

In accordance with the present invention the fermentation includes, without limitation, fermentation processes used to produce alcohols (e.g., ethanol, methanol, butanol); organic acids (e.g., citric acid, acetic acid, itaconic acid, lactic acid, gluconic acid); ketones (e.g., acetone); amino acids (e.g., glutamic acid); gases (e.g., H₂ and CO₂); antibiotics (e.g., penicillin and tetracycline); enzymes; vitamins (e.g., riboflavin, B₁₂, beta-carotene); and hormones. In such preferred embodiment, the process is typically carried at a temperature between 28° C. and 36° C., such as between 29° C. and 35° C., such as between 30° C. and 34° C., such as around 32° C., at a pH in the range between 3 and 7, preferably from pH 3.5 to 6, or more preferably from pH 4 to 5.

In other embodiments, low pH values will minimize the risk of contamination, since competing organisms are no longer able to grow. The fermentation process of the invention may be carried out at low pH, for instance fermentation of organic acids, as typically fermentation organisms lower the pH rapidly to about 4.0 to 4.5, and some of the lactobacilli even lower the pH to about 3.5. The amount of free lactic acid present in a solution (eg. at least about 50 g/L, preferably at least about 80 g/L, and more preferably at least about 100 g/L lactate) results in a relatively low pH. The higher the percentage of the lactate which is present in its free acid form, the lower the solution pH. For example, where the medium pH is equal to the pKa of lactic acid (about 3.8), 50% of the lactate is present in the free acid form. At pH 4.2, about 31% of the lactate as a free acid and at pH 4.0 and 3.9, about 41% and 47% respectively of the The present invention provides a use of the glucoamylase(s) of the invention for producing glucose and other saccharides from raw starch or granular starch. Generally, glucoamylase of the present invention either alone or in the presence of an alpha-amylase can be used in raw starch hydrolysis (RSH) or granular starch hydrolysis (GSH) process for producing desired sugars and fermentation products. The granular starch is solubilized by enzymatic hydrolysis below the gelatinization temperature. Such “low-temperature” systems (known also as “no-cook” or “cold-cook”) have been reported to be able to process higher concentrations of dry solids than conventional systems (e.g., up to 45%).

A “raw starch hydrolysis” process (RSH) differs from conventional starch treatment processes, including sequentially or simultaneously saccharifying and fermenting granular starch at or below the gelatinization temperature of the starch substrate typically in the presence of at least an glucoamylase and/or amylase. Starch heated in water begins to gelatinize between 50° C. and 75° C., the exact temperature of gelatinization depends on the specific starch. For example, the gelatinization temperature may vary according to the plant species, to the particular variety of the plant species as well as with the growth conditions. In the context of this invention the gelatinization temperature of a given starch is the temperature at which birefringence is lost in 5% of the starch granules using the method described by Gorinstein. S. and Lii. C., Starch/Starke, Vol. 44 (12) pp. 461-466 (1992).

The glucoamylase of the invention may also be used in combination with an enzyme that hydrolyzes only alpha-(1, 6)-glucosidic bonds in molecules comprising at least four glucosyl residues. Preferably, the glucoamylase of the invention is used in combination with pullulanase or isoamylase. The use of isoamylase and pullulanase for debranching of starch, the molecular properties of the enzymes, and the potential use of the enzymes together with glucoamylase is described in G. M. A. van Beynum et al., Starch Conversion Technology, Marcel Dekker, New York, 1985, 101-142.

The term “fermentation product” means a product produced by a process including a fermentation process using a fermenting organism. Fermentation products contemplated according to the invention include alcohols (e.g., arabinitol, butanol, ethanol, glycerol, methanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butanediol, glycerin, sorbitol, and xylitol); organic acids (e.g., acetic acid, acetonic acid, adipic acid, ascorbic acid, citric acid, 2,5-diketo-D-gluconic acid, formic acid, fumaric acid, glutaric acid, gluconic acid, glucuronic acid, glutaric acid, 3-hydroxypropionic acid, itaconic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, malonic acid, oxalic acid, oxaloacetic acid, propionic acid, succinic acid, and xylonic acid); ketones (e.g., acetone); amino acids (e.g., aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, lysine, serine, and threonine); an alkane (e.g., pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, nonane, decane, undecane, and dodecane); a cycloalkane (e.g., cyclopentane, cyclohexane, cycloheptane, and cyclooctane); an alkene (e.g. pentene, hexene, heptene, and octene); gases (e.g., methane, hydrogen (H₂), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and carbon monoxide (CO)); antibiotics (e.g., penicillin and tetracycline); enzymes; vitamins (e.g., riboflavin, B₁₂, beta-carotene); and hormones.

In a preferred aspect, the fermentation product is ethanol, e.g., fuel ethanol; drinking ethanol, i.e., potable neutral spirits; or industrial ethanol or products used in the consumable alcohol industry (e.g., beer and wine), dairy industry (e.g., fermented dairy products), leather industry and tobacco industry. Preferred beer types comprise ales, stouts, porters, lagers, bitters, malt liquors, high-alcohol beer, low-alcohol beer, low-calorie beer or light beer. Preferred fermentation processes used include alcohol fermentation processes, which are well known in the art. Preferred fermentation processes are anaerobic fermentation processes, which are well known

Processes for making beer are well known in the art. See, e.g., Wolfgang Kunze (2004) “Technology Brewing and Malting,” Research and Teaching Institute of Brewing, Berlin (VLB), 3rd edition. Briefly, the process involves: (a) preparing a mash, (b) filtering the mash to prepare a wort, and (c) fermenting the wort to obtain a fermented beverage, such as beer.

The brewing composition comprising a glucoamylase, in combination with an amylase and optionally a pullulanase and/or isoamylase, may be added to the mash of step (a) above, i.e., during the preparation of the mash. Alternatively, or in addition, the brewing composition may be added to the mash of step (b) above, i.e., during the filtration of the mash. Alternatively, or in addition, the brewing composition may be added to the wort of step (c) above, i.e., during the fermenting of the wort.

In still another aspect, the glucoamylases described herein can be used as a feed additive for animals to increase starch digestibility. Describe herein is a method for increasing starch digestibility in an animal which comprises adding at least one glucoamylase selected from the group consisting of:

-   -   (g) a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:         7, 8, or 9;     -   (h) a polypeptide having at least 83% identity to the amino acid         sequence of SEQ ID NO:

-   7, 8, or 9;     -   (i) a polypeptide having at least 83% identity to a catalytic         domain of SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, or 9;     -   (j) a polypeptide having at least 83% identity to a linker and a         catalytic domain of SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, or 9; or     -   (k) a mature polypeptide produced by the processing of the         polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, or 3 by a signal peptidase or         post translational modification during secretion from an         expression host;         as a feed additive to feed for an animal wherein said         glucoamylase (a) has at least 20% activity or at least 20%         greater residual activity at pH less than or equal to 3 in the         presence of pepsin or rumin fluid (e.g., pepsin-containing rumen         fluid) as compared to activity of the enzymes at pH 6 alone or         in the presence of or rumin fluid (e.g., pepsin-containing rumen         fluid), and (b) the enzyme works with pancreatic amylase to         increase glucose yield.

In another aspect, when the animal is a ruminant then the enzyme is active in at least two of three digestive chambers of a ruminant comprising a rumen, an abomasum and a small intestine. The rumen is the largest compartment, with a volume of 150-200 litres (40-50 gallons).

Ruminants have the unique ability to convert roughage into protein and energy through their microbial/enzyme digestive systems. Accordingly, ruminants play an important role in the earth's ecology and in the food chain.

The primary difference between a ruminant and a non-ruminant is that a ruminant has a four-compartment stomach consisting of a rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum. The abomasum is the direct equivalent of the monogastric stomach (McDonald et al., 2011, Animal Nutrition (7th Edition), pages 156-191).

In the digestive system, there are billions of microorganisms. They help the cow to digest and utilize nutrients in the feed. To achieve efficient feed utilization and high milk yield, the bacteria must have optimal conditions. It is the bacteria that digest the feed. Feeding a cow, in fact, involves feeding the micro-organisms in her rumen. The process of fermentation takes place in the rumen and the reticulum. The cow's rumen is like a large fermentation vat. More than 200 different bacteria and 20 types of protozoa help the cow to utilize fibrous feedstuffs and non-protein nitrogen sources. Fermentation is the chemical process by which molecules such as glucose are broken down anaerobically, such as when microorganisms convert carbohydrates into volatile fatty acids and gases. This process allows the cow to convert cellulosic fiber into energy. Of gases produced within the rumen during fermentation (500-1500 litres per day) (150-400 gallons), 20-40% consist of methane and carbon dioxide. Production of fermentation gases represents a considerable energy loss. Certain fermentation modifiers, such as ionophores, improve energy efficiency of ruminants by reducing those gas energy losses.

The rumen and reticulum are basically one compartment, but with different functions. While much of fermentative action occurs in the rumen, the reticulum serves as a staging area for passage into the omasum or regurgitation.

The ideal rumen pH value is between 6 and 7. The ruminal microorganisms are healthiest within this range. If the pH value varies too much, some types of micro-organisms are eliminated, and there is reduced utilization of the feed. Micro-organisms that digest cellulose (hay, silage, etc.) are unable to grow or ferment cellulose with a pH value below 6.0. When ruminal pH drops below 6, the rumen is considered to be acidotic. Ruminal acidosis can be acute with a rapid, severe drop in pH. More common in high producing herds is sub-clinical acidosis which is characterized by chronic, intermittent periods of low ruminal pH.

As noted above, the digestibility of starch in feeds is highly variable and dependent on a number of factors including the physical structure of both the starch and feed matrix.

It has been found that starch digestibility in an animal's diet can be improved by the use of at least one glucoamylase as a feed additive for a ruminant wherein said glucoamylase: (a) has at least 20% activity (such as at least about 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, or 80% greater activity, inclusive of all values in between these percentages) or at least 20% greater residual activity (such as at least about 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, or 80% greater residual activity, inclusive of all values in between these percentages) at pH less than or equal to 3 in the presence of pepsin or rumin fluid (e.g., pepsin-containing rumen fluid) as compared to activity of the enzymes at pH 6 alone or in the presence of or rumin fluid (e.g., pepsin-containing rumen fluid) and (b) the hydrolase works with digestive enzymes present in the digestive chambers of the animal to increase glucose yield and increase starch digestibility.

Any of the glucoamylases described herein may be used alone or in combination with at least one direct fed microbial. Categories of DFMs include Bacillus, Lactic Acid Bacteria and Yeasts. Bacilli are unique, gram-positive rods that form spores. These spores are very stable and can withstand environmental conditions such as heat, moisture and a range of pH. These spores germinate into active vegetative cells when ingested by an animal and can be used in meal and pelleted diets.

The terms “animal feed,” “feed”, “feedstuff” and “fodder” are used interchangeably and can comprise one or more feed materials selected from the group comprising a) cereals, such as small grains (e.g., wheat, barley, rye, oats and combinations thereof) and/or large grains such as maize or sorghum; b) by products from cereals, such as corn gluten meal, Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) (particularly corn based Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (cDDGS), wheat bran, wheat middlings, wheat shorts, rice bran, rice hulls, oat hulls, palm kernel, and citrus pulp; c) protein obtained from sources such as soya, sunflower, peanut, lupin, peas, fava beans, cotton, canola, fish meal, dried plasma protein, meat and bone meal, potato protein, whey, copra, sesame; d) oils and fats obtained from vegetable and animal sources; and/or e) minerals and vitamins.

When used as, or in the preparation of a feed, such as functional feed, the enzyme or feed additive composition of the present invention may be used in conjunction with one or more of: a nutritionally acceptable carrier, a nutritionally acceptable diluent, a nutritionally acceptable excipient, a nutritionally acceptable adjuvant, a nutritionally active ingredient. For example, there could be mentioned at least one component selected from the group consisting of a protein, a peptide, sucrose, lactose, sorbitol, glycerol, propylene glycol, sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, sodium acetate, sodium citrate, sodium formate, sodium sorbate, potassium chloride, potassium sulfate, potassium acetate, potassium citrate, potassium formate, potassium acetate, potassium sorbate, magnesium chloride, magnesium sulfate, magnesium acetate, magnesium citrate, magnesium formate, magnesium sorbate, sodium metabisulfite, methyl paraben and propyl paraben.

In a preferred embodiment, the enzyme or feed additive composition of the present invention is admixed with a feed component to form a feedstuff. The term “feed component” as used herein means all or part of the feedstuff. Part of the feedstuff may mean one constituent of the feedstuff or more than one constituent of the feedstuff, e.g. 2 or 3 or 4 or more. In one embodiment, the term “feed component” encompasses a premix or premix constituents. Preferably, the feed may be a fodder, or a premix thereof, a compound feed, or a premix thereof.

A feed additive composition according to the present invention may be admixed with a compound feed, a compound feed component or to a premix of a compound feed or to a fodder, a fodder component, or a premix of a fodder.

Any feedstuff described herein may comprise one or more feed materials selected from the group comprising a) cereals, such as small grains (e.g., wheat, barley, rye, oats, triticale and combinations thereof) and/or large grains such as maize or sorghum; b) by products from cereals, such as corn gluten meal, wet-cake (particularly corn based wet-cake), Distillers Dried Grains (DDG) (particularly corn based Distillers Dried Grains (cDDG)), Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) (particularly corn based Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (cDDGS)), wheat bran, wheat middlings, wheat shorts, rice bran, rice hulls, oat hulls, palm kernel, and citrus pulp; c) protein obtained from sources such as soya, sunflower, peanut, lupin, peas, fava beans, cotton, canola, fish meal, dried plasma protein, meat and bone meal, potato protein, whey, copra, sesame; d) oils and fats obtained from vegetable and animal sources; e) minerals and vitamins.

The term “compound feed” means a commercial feed in the form of a meal, a pellet, nuts, cake or a crumble. Compound feeds may be blended from various raw materials and additives. These blends are formulated according to the specific requirements of the target animal.

Compound feeds can be complete feeds that provide all the daily required nutrients, concentrates that provide a part of the ration (protein, energy) or supplements that only provide additional micronutrients, such as minerals and vitamins.

The main ingredients used in compound feed are the feed grains, which include corn, wheat, canola meal, rapeseed meal, lupin, soybeans, sorghum, oats, and barley.

Suitably a premix as referred to herein may be a composition composed of microingredients such as vitamins, minerals, chemical preservatives, antibiotics, fermentation products, and other essential ingredients. Premixes are usually compositions suitable for blending into commercial rations.

In one embodiment, the feedstuff comprises or consists of corn, DDGS (such as cDDGS), wheat, wheat bran or any combination thereof.

In one embodiment, the feed component may be corn, DDGS (e.g. cDDGS), wheat, wheat bran or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the feedstuff comprises or consists of corn, DDGS (such as cDDGS) or a combination thereof.

A feedstuff described herein may contain at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50% or at least 60% by weight corn and soybean meal or corn and full fat soy, or wheat meal or sunflower meal.

For example, a feedstuff may contain between about 5 to about 40% corn DDGS. For poultry, the feedstuff on average may contain between about 7 to 15% corn DDGS. For swine (pigs), the feedstuff may contain on average 5 to 40% corn DDGS. It may also contain corn as a single grain, in which case the feedstuff may comprise between about 35% to about 80% corn.

The feed may be one or more of the following: a compound feed and premix, including pellets, nuts or (cattle) cake; a crop or crop residue: corn, soybeans, sorghum, oats, barley copra, straw, chaff, sugar beet waste; fish meal; meat and bone meal; molasses; oil cake and press cake; oligosaccharides; conserved forage plants: silage; seaweed; seeds and grains, either whole or prepared by crushing, milling etc.; sprouted grains and legumes; yeast extract.

The term “feed” as used herein encompasses in some embodiments pet food. A pet food is plant or animal material intended for consumption by pets, such as dog food or cat food. Pet food, such as dog and cat food, may be either in a dry form, such as kibble for dogs, or wet canned form. Cat food may contain the amino acid taurine.

As used herein the term “contacted” refers to the indirect or direct application of a glucoamylase as described herein (or a composition comprising a glucoamylase) to a product (e.g. the feed). Examples of application methods which may be used, include, but are not limited to, treating the product in a material comprising the feed additive composition, direct application by mixing the feed additive composition with the product, spraying the feed additive composition onto the product surface or dipping the product into a preparation of the feed additive composition. In one embodiment, the feed additive composition of the present invention is preferably admixed with the product (e.g. feedstuff). Alternatively, the feed additive composition may be included in the emulsion or raw ingredients of a feedstuff. This allows the composition to impart a performance benefit.

It is also possible that at least one glucoamylase (or an enzyme composition comprising at least one glucoamylase as described herein) described herein can be homogenized to produce a powder.

In an alternative preferred embodiment, an enzyme composition comprising at least one glucoamylase can be formulated to granules as described in WO2007/044968 (referred to as TPT granules) or WO1997/016076 or WO1992/012645 incorporated herein by reference. “TPT” means Thermo Protection Technology.

In another aspect, when the feed additive composition is formulated into granules the granules comprise a hydrated barrier salt coated over the protein core. The advantage of such salt coating is improved thermo-tolerance, improved storage stability and protection against other feed additives otherwise having adverse effect on the enzyme. Preferably, the salt used for the salt coating has a water activity greater than 0.25 or constant humidity greater than 60% at 20° C. In some embodiments, the salt coating comprises Na₂SO₄.

A method of preparing at least one glucoamylase as described herein (or an enzyme composition comprising at least one glucoamylase as described herein) may also comprise the further step of pelleting the powder. The powder may be mixed with other components known in the art. The powder, or mixture comprising the powder, may be forced through a die and the resulting strands are cut into suitable pellets of variable length.

Optionally, the pelleting step may include a steam treatment, or conditioning stage, prior to formation of the pellets. The mixture comprising the powder may be placed in a conditioner, e.g. a mixer with steam injection. The mixture is heated in the conditioner up to a specified temperature, such as from 60-100° C., typical temperatures would be 70° C., 80° C., 85° C., 90° C. or 95° C. The residence time can be variable from seconds to minutes and even hours. Such as 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minutes 2 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes and 1 hour. It will be understood that a glycoside hydrolase as described herein (or an enzyme composition comprising a glycoside hydrolase as described herein) are suitable for addition to any appropriate feed material.

Optionally, the feedstuff may also contain additional minerals such as, for example, calcium and/or additional vitamins. In some embodiments, the feedstuff is a corn soybean meal mix.

Feedstuff is typically produced in feed mills in which raw materials are first ground to a suitable particle size and then mixed with appropriate additives. The feedstuff may then be produced as a mash or pellets; the later typically involves a method by which the temperature is raised to a target level and then the feed is passed through a die to produce pellets of a particular size. The pellets are allowed to cool. Subsequently liquid additives such as fat and enzyme may be added. Production of feedstuff may also involve an additional step that includes extrusion or expansion prior to pelleting, in particular by suitable techniques that may include at least the use of steam.

The feed additive composition and/or the feedstuff comprising the same may be used in any suitable form. The feed additive composition may be used in the form of solid or liquid preparations or alternatives thereof. Examples of solid preparations include powders, pastes, boluses, capsules, pellets, tablets, dusts, and granules which may be wettable, spray-dried or freeze-dried. Examples of liquid preparations include, but are not limited to, aqueous, organic or aqueous-organic solutions, suspensions and emulsions.

Preferably, a food or feed additive composition may comprise at least one physiologically acceptable carrier. The physiologically acceptable carrier is preferably selected from at least one of maltodextrin, limestone (calcium carbonate), cyclodextrin, wheat or a wheat component, sucrose, starch, Na₂SO₄, Talc, PVA and mixtures thereof. In a further embodiment, the food or feed additive may further comprise a metal ion chelator. The metal ion chelator may be selected from EDTA or citric acid.

In some embodiments, the food or feed additive composition comprises a glycoside hydrolase as described herein at a level of at least 0.0001 g/kg, 0.001 g/kg, at least 0.01 g/kg, at least 0.1 g/kg, at least 1 g/kg, at least 5 g/kg, at least 7.5 g/kg, at least 10.0 g/kg, at least 15.0 g/kg, at least 20.0 g/kg, at least 25.0 g/kg. In some embodiments, the food or feed additive comprises at a level such that when added to a food or feed material, the feed material comprises a glycoside hydrolase as described herein in a range of 1-500 mg/kg, 1-100 mg/kg, 2-50 mg/kg or 2-10 mg/kg. In some embodiments of the present invention the food or feed material comprises at least 100, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 10000, 20000, 30000, 50000, 100000, 500000, 1000000 or 2000000 Units of glycoside hydrolase per kilogram feed or food material.

Formulations comprising any of the at least one glucoamylase described herein and compositions described herein may be made in any suitable way to ensure that the formulation comprises active enzymes. Such formulations may be as a liquid, a dry powder or a granule. Preferably, the feed additive composition is in a solid form suitable for adding on or to a feed pellet.

In one embodiment animal feed may be formulated to a granule for feed compositions comprising: a core; an active agent; and at least one coating, the active agent of the granule retaining at least 50% activity, at least 60% activity, at least 70% activity, at least 80% activity after conditions selected from one or more of a) a feed pelleting process, b) a steam-heated feed pretreatment process, c) storage, d) storage as an ingredient in an unpelleted mixture, and e) storage as an ingredient in a feed base mix or a feed premix comprising at least one compound selected from trace minerals, organic acids, reducing sugars, vitamins, choline chloride, and compounds which result in an acidic or a basic feed base mix or feed premix.

Regarding the granule, at least one coating may comprise a moisture hydrating material that constitutes at least 55% w/w of the granule; and/or at least one coating may comprise two coatings. The two coatings may be a moisture hydrating coating and a moisture barrier coating. In some embodiments, the moisture hydrating coating may be between 25% and 60% w/w of the granule and the moisture barrier coating may be between 2% and 15% w/w of the granule. The moisture hydrating coating may be selected from inorganic salts, sucrose, starch, and maltodextrin and the moisture barrier coating may be selected from polymers, gums, whey and starch.

The granule may be produced using a feed pelleting process and the feed pretreatment process may be conducted between 70° C. and 95° C. for up to several minutes, such as between 85° C. and 95° C.

The granule may have a moisture barrier coating selected from polymers and gums and the moisture hydrating material may be an inorganic salt. The moisture hydrating coating may be between 25% and 45% w/w of the granule and the moisture barrier coating may be between 2% and 10% w/w of the granule.

Alternatively, the composition is in a liquid formulation suitable for consumption preferably such liquid consumption contains one or more of the following: a buffer, salt, sorbitol and/or glycerol.

Also, the feed additive composition may be formulated by applying, e.g. spraying, the enzyme(s) onto a carrier substrate, such as ground wheat for example.

In one embodiment, the feed additive composition may be formulated as a premix. By way of example only the premix may comprise one or more feed components, such as one or more minerals and/or one or more vitamins.

In some embodiments, at least one glucoamylase will be in a physiologically acceptable carrier. Suitable carriers may be large, slowly metabolized macromolecules such as proteins, polypeptides, liposomes, polysaccharides, polylactic acids, polyglycolic acids, polymeric amino acids, amino acid copolymers and inactive virus particles. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts can be used, for example mineral acid salts, such as hydrochlorides, hydrobromides, phosphates and sulphates, or salts of organic acids, such as acetates, propionates, malonates and benzoates. Once formulated, the compositions of the invention can be administered directly to the ruminant.

Additionally, the glucoamylase-containing compositions disclosed herein can be further formulated with (e.g., blended with) one or more additional component enzymes (e.g. further feed enzymes or brewing or malting enzymes, or grain processing enzymes or wheat gluten-starch separation enzymes).

Suitable additional enzymes for use in the glucoamylase-containing compositions disclosed herein can be one or more of the enzymes selected from the group consisting of: endoglucanases (E.C. 3.2.1.4); celliobiohydrolases (E.C. 3.2.1.91), (3-glucosidases (E.C. 3.2.1.21), cellulases (E.C. 3.2.1.74), lichenases (E.C. 3.1.1.73), lipases (E.C. 3.1.1.3), lipid acyltransferases (generally classified as E.C. 2.3.1.x), phospholipases (E.C. 3.1.1.4, E.C. 3.1.1.32 or E.C. 3.1.1.5), phytases (e.g. 6-phytase (E.C. 3.1.3.26) or a 3-phytase (E.C. 3.1.3.8), alpha-amylases (E.C. 3.2.1.1), other xylanases (E.C. 3.2.1.8, E.C. 3.2.1.32, E.C. 3.2.1.37, E.C. 3.1.1.72, E.C. 3.1.1.73), glucoamylases (E.G. 3.2.1.3), proteases (e.g. subtilisin (E.C. 3.4.21.62) or a bacillolysin (E.C. 3.4.24.28) or an alkaline serine protease (E.C. 3.4.21.x) or a keratinase (E.C. 3.4.x.x)) and/or mannanases (e.g. a β-mannanase (E.C. 3.2.1.78)).

In one embodiment (e.g., for feed applications) the other component enzyme can be one or more of the enzymes selected from the group consisting of an amylase (including α-amylases (E.C. 3.2.1.1), G4-forming amylases (E.C. 3.2.1.60), β-amylases (E.C. 3.2.1.2) and γ-amylases (E.C. 3.2.1.3); and/or a protease (e.g. subtilisin (E.C. 3.4.21.62) or a bacillolysin (E.C. 3.4.24.28) or an alkaline serine protease (E.C. 3.4.21.x) or a keratinase (E.C. 3.4.x.x)).

In one embodiment (e.g., for feed applications) the other component enzyme may be a combination of an amylase (e.g. α-amylases (E.C. 3.2.1.1)) and a protease (e.g. subtilisin (E.C. 3.4.21.62)).

In one embodiment (e.g., for feed applications) the other component enzyme can be a β-glucanase, e.g. an endo-1,3(4)-β-glucanases (E.C. 3.2.1.6).

In one embodiment (e.g., for feed applications) the other component enzyme can be a mannanases (e.g. a β-mannanase (E.C. 3.2.1.78)).

In one embodiment (e.g., for feed applications) the other component enzyme can be a lipase (E.C. 3.1.1.3), a lipid acyltransferase (generally classified as E.C. 2.3.1.x), or a phospholipase (E.C. 3.1.1.4, E.C. 3.1.1.32 or E.C. 3.1.1.5), suitably a lipase (E.C. 3.1.1.3).

In one embodiment (particularly for feed applications) the other component enzyme may be a serine protease (e.g. E.C. 3.4.21, subtilisin), trypsin-like S1 or S2 proteases, or a metalloprotease (e.g. E.C. 3.4.24, bacillolysin), or an aspartyl protease (e.g. E.C. 3.4.23).

EXAMPLES

Unless defined otherwise herein, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. Singleton, et al., DICTIONARY OF MICROBIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, 2D ED., John Wiley and Sons, New York (1994), and Hale & Marham, THE HARPER COLLINS DICTIONARY OF BIOLOGY, Harper Perennial, N.Y. (1991) provide one of skill with a general dictionary of many of the terms used with this disclosure.

The disclosure is further defined in the following Examples. It should be understood that the Examples, while indicating certain embodiments, is given by way of illustration only. From the above discussion and the Examples, one skilled in the art can ascertain essential characteristics of this disclosure, and without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications to adapt to various uses and conditions.

Example 1 Sequences of Glucoamylases

The nucleic acid sequence for the FraGA1 gene, and the amino acid sequence of the hypothetical protein encoded by the FraGA1 gene were found in the NCBI database (NCBI Accession No.: NW_012133200.1 (gene) and XP_012178139 (protein)).

The amino acid sequence of the FraGA1 precursor protein is set forth as SEQ ID NO: 1.

MLFLLAALGLACSAAAQSTSVSAYIASESPVAKAGVLANIGTEGSLSSGAY SGVVIASPSTVNPDYLYTWVRDSSLTFQALIDQYVYGEDPTLRSLIDEFIT AESILQQTTNPSGTVSTGGLGEPKFNINETAFTGPWGRPQRDGPALRSTAI ITYATYLWNSGNTSYVSDSLWPIIELDLNYIATYWNFSTFDLWEEIDSSSF WTTAVQHRALRQGITFANLIGQTSPVSNYETQAGDILCFLQTYWNPTGNYM TANTGGGRSGKDSNTVLASVHTFDPDAGCDSTTFQPCSDKALSNLKVYVDS FRSLYAINDGIASDAAVATGRYPEDVYYGGNPWYLCTFAVAEQLYDALIVW SSQGYLEITDLSLAFFQQFDSDVGTGTYDSGSSTYSTLTSAIRTFADGFVL TNAKYTPTNGSLSEEYTSADGTPISAYDLTWSYASALTVFAAEAGTTYGSW GAAGLTVPSTCTSGVAVTFEVDYDTEYGENVYITGSVNALENWSATNALIM SAADYPTWSITVYLPPSTTIQYKYLTQYNGEVTWEDDPNNEITTPASGSMT QVDSWH

The nucleic acid sequence for the WcoGA1 gene, and the amino acid sequence of the hypothetical protein encoded by the WcoGA1 gene were found in the JGI database (JGI Accession No.: Wolco1150090 (gene) and Wolco1149945 (protein)). The N-terminal signal peptide was predicted by SignalP software version 4.0 (Nordahl Petersen et al. (2011) Nature Methods, 8:785-786).

The amino acid sequence of the WcoGA1 precursor protein is set forth as SEQ ID NO: 2.

MRLSLASVFALAGGALAQTTSVTSYIASESPIAKAGVLANIGADGSLSSGA YSGIVIASPSTVNPNYLYTWTRDSSLTFMELINQYIYGEDDTLRTLIDEFV SAEATLQQVTNPSGTVSTGGLGEPKFNINETAFTGPWGRPQRDGPALRATA IMAYATYLYENGNTSYVTDTLWPIIELDLGYVAEYWNESTFDLWEEIDSSS FFTTAVQHRALRAGVTFANLIGETSDVSNYQENADDLLCFLQSYWNPTGSY VTANTGGGRSGKDANTLLASIHTFDPDAGCNATTFQPCSDKALSNHKVYVD SFRSLYAINDDISSDAAVATGRYPEDVYYNGNPWYLCTLAAAEQLYDSLIV WKAQGYIEVTSLSLAFFQQFDASVSAGTYDSSSDTYTTLLDAVQTYADGFV LMVAQYTPANGSLSEQYAKADGSPTSAYDLTWSFAAALTAFAARDGKTYGS WGAADLSSTCSGSTDTVAVTFEVQYDTQYGENLYITGSVSQLEDWSADDAL IMSSADYPTWSITVDLPPSTLIQYKYLTKYNGDVTWEDDPNNEITTPASGS YTQVDSWH

The amino acid sequence of the TeGA precursor protein from Talaromyces emersonii is set forth as SEQ ID NO: 3.

MASLVAGALCILGLTPAAFARAPVAARATGSLDSFLATETPIALQGVLNNI GPNGADVAGASAGIVVASPSRSDPNYFYSWTRDAALTAKYLVDAFNRGNKD LEQTIQQYISAQAKVQTISNPSGDLSTGGLGEPKFNVNETAFTGPWGRPQR DGPALRATALIAYANYLIDNGEASTADEIIWPIVQNDLSYITQYWNSSTFD LWEEVEGSSFFTTAVQHRALVEGNALATRLNHTCSNCVSQAPQVLCFLQSY WTGSYVLANFGGSGRSGKDVNSILGSIHTFDPAGGCDDSTFQPCSARALAN HKVVTDSFRSIYAINSGIAEGSAVAVGRYPEDVYQGGNPWYLATAAAAEQL YDAIYQWKKIGSISITDVSLPFFQDIYPSAAVGTYNSGSTTFNDIISAVQT YGDGYLSIVEKYTPSDGSLTEQFSRTDGTPLSASALTWSYASLLTASARRQ SVVPASWGESSASSVLAVCSATSATGPYSTATNTVWPSSGSGSSTTTSSAP CTTPTSVAVTFDEIVSTSYGETIYLAGSIPELGNWSTASAIPLRADAYTNS NPLWYVTVNLPPGTSFEYKFFKNQTDGTIVWEDDPNRSYTVPAYCGQTTAI LDDSWQ

Example 2 Expression of Glucoamylases

DNA sequences encoding full-length FraGA1 and WcoGA1 were synthesized and inserted into the pTTT expression vector (described in published PCT Application WO2011/063308). A DNA sequence encoding the TeGA was synthesized and inserted into the pTrex3gM expression vector (described in U.S. Published Application 2011/0136197 A1).

The nucleotide sequence of the FraGA1 gene used for expression is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 4.

ATGCTCTTCCTCCTCGCTGCTCTGGGCCTCGCTTGTAGCGCTGCTGCCCAA TCCACTTCCGTCTCCGCTTACATCGCCAGCGAGAGCCCCGTTGCCAAAGCC GGTGTTCTGGCTAACATTGGCACTGAAGGTAGCCTGAGCTCCGGTGCCTAC TCCGGCGTTGTCATCGCCTCCCCCAGCACCGTCAACCCTGACTACCTCTAT ACTTGGGTTCGCGACTCCAGCCTCACTTTCCAAGCCCTGATTGACCAGTAC GTTTACGGCGAGGACCCCACCCTCCGAAGCCTGATCGACGAGTTCATTACC GCTGAGTCCATCCTGCAGCAAACTACCAACCCCAGCGGCACCGTTAGCACC GGCGGTCTGGGCGAGCCCAAGTTCAACATCAATGAGACTGCCTTTACCGGT CCCTGGGGCCGACCCCAACGCGACGGTCCTGCCCTCCGCAGCACTGCCATC ATTACTTATGCCACCTACCTGTGGAACTCCGGTAACACCTCCTACGTTTCC GATTCCCTCTGGCCCATCATCGAACTCGACCTGAATTACATTGCTACCTAC TGGAATTTCTCCACTTTTGATCTGTGGGAAGAGATTGACTCCTCCAGCTTC TGGACCACTGCCGTTCAGCATCGAGCCCTGCGCCAGGGTATCACCTTCGCT AATCTGATTGGCCAGACCAGCCCTGTCAGCAACTATGAGACCCAAGCCGGC GATATCCTCTGTTTCCTCCAAACCTATTGGAATCCTACCGGCAACTACATG ACCGCCAATACTGGCGGTGGTCGAAGCGGCAAGGACTCCAACACCGTTCTC GCTTCCGTTCATACCTTCGATCCCGATGCCGGCTGTGATAGCACTACTTTT CAACCTTGCTCCGACAAGGCCCTGAGCAACCTCAAGGTCTACGTCGACTCC TTTCGCAGCCTGTACGCCATCAACGACGGTATTGCCTCCGACGCTGCCGTC GCCACCGGCCGCTATCCTGAGGACGTCTACTACGGCGGTAACCCCTGGTAC CTCTGCACCTTTGCTGTCGCCGAACAACTCTACGACGCCCTCATCGTCTGG AGCAGCCAGGGCTATCTCGAAATCACTGACCTCAGCCTGGCCTTCTTCCAG CAGTTTGATTCCGATGTCGGTACTGGCACCTACGACAGCGGCTCCAGCACT TACTCCACTCTCACCTCCGCCATCCGAACTTTTGCTGATGGCTTCGTTCTG ACCAACGCCAAATACACCCCTACCAATGGTTCCCTGTCCGAGGAGTACACC AGCGCCGATGGCACTCCTATCTCCGCCTATGACCTGACCTGGAGCTACGCC TCCGCTCTGACCGTCTTTGCCGCCGAGGCCGGCACCACTTACGGCTCCTGG GGTGCTGCTGGCCTGACTGTCCCTAGCACCTGCACTAGCGGCGTCGCTGTT ACTTTCGAGGTCGATTACGACACCGAGTATGGCGAAAACGTCTATATCACC GGTTCCGTCAATGCCCTGGAAAATTGGTCCGCCACTAATGCTCTGATTATG TCCGCCGCTGACTATCCCACCTGGTCCATCACCGTTTACCTGCCCCCCTCC ACCACCATTCAGTATAAGTATCTCACCCAGTACAACGGCGAAGTCACTTGG GAGGACGACCCTAACAACGAGATTACTACCCCTGCTAGCGGTTCCATGACC CAGGTTGACAGCTGGCACtaa

The nucleotide sequence of the WcoGA1 gene used for expression is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 5.

ATGCGACTGAGCCTGGCCTCCGTTTTTGCTCTCGCCGGTGGTGCCCTCGCC CAGACCACTAGCGTCACCTCCTACATTGCTAGCGAAAGCCCCATTGCCAAA GCCGGTGTTCTCGCTAACATTGGCGCTGACGGCTCCCTGAGCTCCGGTGCT TATTCCGGCATTGTTATCGCCAGCCCCTCCACCGTTAACCCTAACTATCTC TATACCTGGACTCGCGACTCCAGCCTGACCTTCATGGAACTGATCAACCAG TACATCTACGGCGAGGACGATACTCTGCGAACTCTGATTGATGAGTTCGTT TCCGCTGAAGCCACCCTCCAACAGGTCACTAATCCTAGCGGCACTGTCTCC ACTGGTGGCCTCGGCGAGCCCAAGTTCAACATCAACGAGACTGCTTTTACT GGTCCCTGGGGCCGACCCCAACGCGATGGCCCTGCCCTGCGCGCTACTGCT ATCATGGCCTATGCCACCTACCTGTATGAAAACGGTAATACTAGCTATGTT ACTGACACCCTCTGGCCCATCATTGAACTCGACCTCGGTTACGTCGCCGAA TATTGGAACGAAAGCACCTTTGATCTCTGGGAGGAAATCGACAGCAGCTCC TTTTTCACTACCGCTGTTCAGCACCGCGCTCTCCGCGCTGGCGTTACCTTC GCCAATCTCATCGGTGAGACCAGCGACGTCAGCAACTACCAGGAAAATGCC GACGACCTCCTCTGCTTCCTCCAAAGCTACTGGAACCCCACTGGCAGCTAC GTCACTGCTAACACTGGCGGTGGTCGAAGCGGCAAGGACGCCAACACTCTC CTGGCTAGCATCCACACCTTCGATCCCGACGCTGGCTGCAACGCCACTACC TTTCAACCCTGTTCCGACAAAGCCCTCAGCAATCACAAGGTCTACGTTGAC TCCTTCCGCAGCCTCTACGCCATCAATGACGACATTAGCAGCGATGCCGCT GTCGCTACCGGCCGATACCCTGAGGATGTCTACTACAACGGCAACCCCTGG TACCTCTGTACCCTGGCCGCTGCTGAGCAACTCTACGACTCCCTCATCGTC TGGAAGGCCCAAGGCTACATCGAAGTCACCAGCCTCAGCCTCGCCTTTTTT CAACAGTTCGATGCTTCCGTTAGCGCCGGTACTTATGATTCCAGCTCCGAC ACCTACACCACCCTGCTCGACGCCGTTCAGACCTATGCTGATGGCTTCGTC CTGATGGTCGCTCAGTACACCCCTGCCAACGGTTCCCTCTCCGAGCAGTAC GCCAAGGCCGATGGCAGCCCCACTTCCGCCTACGACCTGACTTGGTCCTTT GCTGCTGCCCTCACCGCCTTCGCTGCCCGCGACGGCAAAACCTATGGTAGC TGGGGTGCCGCCGATCTCTCCAGCACCTGCAGCGGTTCCACCGACACTGTC GCCGTCACTTTCGAGGTCCAGTACGACACCCAATATGGTGAAAATCTGTAC ATTACCGGCAGCGTCTCCCAGCTCGAGGATTGGAGCGCTGATGATGCTCTC ATCATGTCCAGCGCCGACTATCCCACCTGGTCCATCACCGTCGATCTGCCC CCTAGCACCCTGATCCAATACAAATACCTCACCAAGTATAACGGCGATGTC ACCTGGGAAGACGATCCCAACAACGAAATTACCACTCCTGCCTCCGGCTCC TATACCCAGGTTGACAGCTGGCACtaa

The nucleotide sequence of the TeGA gene used for expression is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 6.

ATGGCCTCCCTGGTTGCTGGTGCTCTGTGCATCCTCGGCCTGACCCCTGCC GCCTTCGCCCGAGCCCCCGTCGCTGCCCGCGCCACTGGCAGCCTCGACAGC TTCCTCGCCACCGAGACCCCTATCGCCCTCCAGGGCGTTCTGAACAACATC GGTCCCAACGGCGCTGACGTCGCCGGTGCTAGCGCCGGTATCGTCGTTGCC AGCCCTAGCCGATCCGACCCCAACTACTTCTACAGCTGGACCCGCGACGCC GCTCTCACCGCTAAGTACCTGGTCGACGCCTTCAATCGCGGCAACAAAGAC CTCGAGCAAACCATCCAGCAGTACATCTCCGCTCAGGCCAAGGTCCAGACC ATTTCCAACCCCAGCGGCGATCTGAGCACTGGCGGCCTGGGCGAGCCCAAG TTCAACGTCAATGAGACCGCTTTCACTGGCCCCTGGGGCCGACCTCAACGC GATGGCCCTGCTCTCCGAGCCACCGCCCTCATCGCCTATGCTAACTACCTG ATCGACAACGGTGAGGCCAGCACTGCCGACGAGATCATCTGGCCCATCGTC CAAAATGACCTCAGCTACATCACCCAATACTGGAACTCCAGCACCTTTGAC CTGTGGGAGGAGGTCGAGGGCTCCAGCTTCTTCACCACTGCTGTTCAGCAC CGCGCCCTCGTTGAGGGTAATGCCCTGGCCACCCGACTCAATCACACTTGC TCCAACTGCGTCAGCCAGGCCCCCCAGGTCCTCTGCTTTCTCCAGAGCTAC TGGACCGGCAGCTACGTCCTGGCCAACTTTGGTGGCAGCGGCCGAAGCGGC AAGGACGTCAACAGCATCCTGGGTTCCATCCACACCTTCGACCCCGCTGGC GGTTGCGACGACTCCACTTTCCAGCCTTGCAGCGCTCGCGCTCTCGCCAAC CACAAGGTCGTCACCGATTCCTTCCGCTCCATCTACGCCATCAATTCCGGC ATCGCCGAGGGTAGCGCTGTTGCTGTCGGCCGCTACCCCGAGGACGTCTAC CAAGGCGGCAATCCCTGGTATCTCGCTACTGCCGCTGCCGCCGAGCAGCTC TATGACGCTATCTATCAGTGGAAAAAGATCGGTAGCATCAGCATTACCGAC GTCAGCCTCCCCTTCTTCCAGGACATCTACCCCTCCGCCGCTGTTGGCACC TACAATTCCGGCTCCACCACCTTCAACGACATCATCAGCGCCGTCCAGACT TATGGCGACGGCTACCTGAGCATTGTCGAGAAGTACACCCCCAGCGATGGC AGCCTCACCGAGCAATTCAGCCGCACCGACGGCACCCCCCTGTCCGCTTCC GCCCTCACCTGGAGCTACGCTTCCCTGCTCACCGCCTCCGCTCGCCGCCAG AGCGTCGTTCCCGCTAGCTGGGGCGAGAGCAGCGCCAGCTCCGTCCTGGCC GTCTGCTCCGCTACTAGCGCCACCGGCCCCTACTCCACTGCCACCAACACC GTTTGGCCTTCCAGCGGCTCCGGCAGCTCCACTACCACCTCCAGCGCCCCT TGCACCACCCCTACCAGCGTCGCCGTCACCTTCGACGAGATCGTCAGCACC AGCTACGGCGAGACCATCTATCTGGCTGGCAGCATCCCCGAGCTGGGCAAT TGGTCCACCGCCAGCGCTATTCCTCTGCGCGCTGACGCCTACACTAATAGC AACCCTCTGTGGTATGTCACCGTTAACCTCCCTCCCGGCACTAGCTTTGAG TATAAGTTTTTCAAGAACCAGACCGATGGTACTATTGTCTGGGAGGACGAC CCCAACCGATCCTACACCGTCCCCGCCTACTGCGGTCAGACTACCGCTATC CTCGACGATTCCTGGCAGtaa

The plasmids encoding the FraGA1, WcoGA1 and TeGA enzymes were transformed into a suitable Trichoderma reesei strain using protoplast transformation (Te'o et al., J. Microbiol. Methods 51:393-99, 2002). The transformants were selected and fermented by the methods described in WO 2016/138315. Supernatants from these cultures were used to confirm the protein expression by SDS-PAGE analysis and assay for enzyme activity.

FraGA1 was purified via the beta-cyclodextrin coupled Sepharose 6 affinity chromatography, followed by gel filtration chromatography. WcoGA1 was purified via the beta-cyclodextrin coupled Sepharose 6 affinity chromatography followed by hydrophobic interaction chromatography. TeGA was purified via hydrophobic interaction chromatography followed by a beta-cyclodextrin coupled Sepharose 6 affinity chromatography. Glucoamylase activity assay and SDS-PAGE were performed. The target protein-containing fractions were pooled and concentrated using an Amicon Ultra-15 device with 10 K MWCO. The concentrated solution was then applied onto a Superdex 75 column (GE Healthcare) in buffer A. The target protein eluted from the column in a single peak, which was again pooled and concentrated. The purified sample is above 90% pure and stored in 40% glycerol at −80° C. until usage.

The predicted mature protein sequence of the FraGA1 is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 7.

QSTSVSAYIASESPVAKAGVLANIGTEGSLSSGAYSGVVIASPSTVNPDYL YTWVRDSSLTFQALIDQYVYGEDPTLRSLIDEFITAESILQQTTNPSGTVS TGGLGEPKFNINETAFTGPWGRPQRDGPALRSTAIITYATYLWNSGNTSYV SDSLWPIIELDLNYIATYWNFSTFDLWEEIDSSSFWTTAVQHRALRQGITF ANLIGQTSPVSNYETQAGDILCFLQTYWNPTGNYMTANTGGGRSGKDSNTV LASVHTFDPDAGCDSTTFQPCSDKALSNLKVYVDSFRSLYAINDGIASDAA VATGRYPEDVYYGGNPWYLCTFAVAEQLYDALIVWSSQGYLEITDLSLAFF QQFDSDVGTGTYDSGSSTYSTLTSAIRTFADGFVLTNAKYTPTNGSLSEEY TSADGTPISAYDLTWSYASALTVFAAEAGTTYGSWGAAGLTVPSTCTSGVA VTFEVDYDTEYGENVYITGSVNALENWSATNALIMSAADYPTWSITVYLPP STTIQYKYLTQYNGEVTWEDDPNNEITTPASGSMTQVDSWH

The predicted mature protein sequence of the WcoGA1 is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 8.

QTTSVTSYIASESPIAKAGVLANIGADGSLSSGAYSGIVIASPSTVNPNYL YTWTRDSSLTFMELINQYIYGEDDTLRTLIDEFVSAEATLQQVTNPSGTVS TGGLGEPKFNINETAFTGPWGRPQRDGPALRATAIMAYATYLYENGNTSYV TDTLWPIIELDLGYVAEYWNESTFDLWEEIDSSSFFTTAVQHRALRAGVTF ANLIGETSDVSNYQENADDLLCFLQSYWNPTGSYVTANTGGGRSGKDANTL LASIHTFDPDAGCNATTFQPCSDKALSNHKVYVDSFRSLYAINDDISSDAA VATGRYPEDVYYNGNPWYLCTLAAAEQLYDSLIVWKAQGYIEVTSLSLAFF QQFDASVSAGTYDSSSDTYTTLLDAVQTYADGFVLMVAQYTPANGSLSEQY AKADGSPTSAYDLTWSFAAALTAFAARDGKTYGSWGAADLSSTCSGSTDTV AVTFEVQYDTQYGENLYITGSVSQLEDWSADDALIMSSADYPTWSITVDLP PSTLIQYKYLTKYNGDVTWEDDPNNEITTPASGSYTQVDSWH

The mature protein sequence of the TeGA is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 9.

ATGSLDSFLATETPIALQGVLNNIGPNGADVAGASAGIVVASPSRSDPNYF YSWTRDAALTAKYLVDAFNRGNKDLEQTIQQYISAQAKVQTISNPSGDLST GGLGEPKFNVNETAFTGPWGRPQRDGPALRATALIAYANYLIDNGEASTAD EIIWPIVQNDLSYITQYWNSSTFDLWEEVEGSSFFTTAVQHRALVEGNALA TRLNHTCSNCVSQAPQVLCFLQSYWTGSYVLANFGGSGRSGKDVNSILGSI HTFDPAGGCDDSTFQPCSARALANHKVVTDSFRSIYAINSGIAEGSAVAVG RYPEDVYQGGNPWYLATAAAAEQLYDAIYQWKKIGSISITDVSLPFFQDIY PSAAVGTYNSGSTTFNDIISAVQTYGDGYLSIVEKYTPSDGSLTEQFSRTD GTPLSASALTWSYASLLTASARRQSVVPASWGESSASSVLAVCSATSATGP YSTATNTVWPSSGSGSSTTTSSAPCTTPTSVAVTFDEIVSTSYGETIYLAG SIPELGNWSTASAIPLRADAYTNSNPLWYVTVNLPPGTSFEYKFFKNQTDG TIVWEDDPNRSYTVPAYCGQTTAILDDSWQ

Example 3 Stability of Glucoamylases at Low pH and in the Presence of Pepsin

The stability of purified samples of glucoamylases TeGA, FraGA1 and WcoGA1 was analyzed at low pH conditions and in the presence of pepsin. The enzymes were incubated with pepsin (Sigma, Cat. No. P7000) in 50 mM glycine-HCl buffer (pH 2.0) and 1% (w/w) soluble starch prepared in 50 mM MES-NaOH buffer (pH 6.5) was used as the substrate for activity measurements. Glucoamylases and pepsin were first mixed in ratios (w/w) of 1:0 or 1:50, where the glucoamylases were dosed at 100 ppm; and the resulting mixture was subsequently incubated at 40° C. for 30 min. Meanwhile, 100 ppm aliquots of each glucoamylase were incubated in 50 mM MES-NaOH buffer (pH6.5) at 40° C. for 30 min, serving as the untreated controls. To initiate the activity measurement, 10 μL of enzyme dilution (enzyme dose selected in linear range, or water alone as the blank control) was added to 96 well-microtiter plate (MTP, Corning 3641) containing 90 μL of substrate (1% starch) solution. The MTP was subsequently sealed and incubated for 10 min in iEMS (ThermoFisher) at 40° C. and 1150 rpm. The glucoamylase activity was determined as the rate of glucose release that was measured using a coupled glucose oxidase/peroxidase (GOX/HRP) method (Anal. Biochem. 105 (1980), 389-397). As shown in Table 2, using glucose release as measure of enzyme activity, the FraGa1, WcoGA1 and TeGA glucoamylases are stable in pH 2.0 buffer, in the presence of absence of exogenous pepsin, unlike the Trichoderma reesei wild type glucoamylase (TrGA, pdb file 2VN4 A, SEQ ID NO: 11) that loses all activity at pH 2.0.

TABLE 2 Relative stability of glucoamylases at low pH and with pepsin in presence of buffer only buffer only pepsin Enzyme pH 6.5 pH 2.0 pH 2.0 TeGA 368 372 395 FraGA1 231 215 221 WcoGA1 235 242 252 TrGA 185  0  0

Example 4 Glucogenic Activity of Glucoamylases on Maltodextrin at Low pH

The glucoamylase activity on maltodextrin substrate was measured at pH 3 by analyzing sugar compositions, with enzymes dosed at 5 ppm. Glucoamylases: TeGA, FraGA1, WcoGA1, AnGA (Aspergillus niger wild type glucoamylase, accession number XP_001390530.1, SEQ ID NO: 10) and TrGA (Trichoderma reesei wild type glucoamylase, pdb file 2VN4 A, SEQ ID NO: 11) were tested on MALTRIN®M040 (Maltodextrin with DE4-7) obtained from Staple Flavour & Fragrance Co. Ltd. The reactions were initiated by adding 10 μL of a 50 ppm sample of the purified glucoamylases to 90 μL of Maltrin substrate (5% w/v) solution in 25 mM Glycine/Na-acetate/HEPES buffer pH 3.0. The incubations were carried out in a PCR incubator at 55° C. for 4 and 22 h, respectively. The reactions were stopped by addition of 50 μL of 0.5 M NaOH and mixing in a shaker for 2 min. The plate was centrifuged to collect the supernatants that were then diluted 20-fold with 5 mM H₂SO₄. These samples (10 μL) were analyzed using an Agilent 1200 series HPLC equipped with a refractive index detector, a Phenomenex Rezex-RFQ Fast Fruit column, and a Phenomenex Rezex ROA Organic Acid guard column. A mobile phase of 5 mM H₂SO₄, at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min at 85° C. was applied. Peaks corresponding to DP1, 2, 3 and 3+ were identified. Peak area percentages of DP1 as a fraction of the total DP1, DP2, DP3 and DP3+ were calculated and are shown in Table 3. FraGA1, WcoGA1 and TeGA glucoamylases exhibited higher glucogenic activity than the AnGA and TrGA.

TABLE 3 Percent of total DPs (DP1, 2, 3 and 3+) detected by HPLC separation from maltodrextrin digestion by various gluco- amylases after 4 and 22 hours. Incubation time Enzyme DP3+ DP3 DP2 DP1  4 h AnGA 43.2 1.4 4.6 50.8 TrGA 55.4 2.8 2.4 39.3 TeGA 22.2 0.4 0 77.4 FraGA1 18.2 0.6 5 76.3 WcoGA1 15 0.2 2.6 82.2 22 h AnGA 22.6 0 1 76.4 TrGA 43.5 2.4 3.5 50.6 TeGA 10.9 0.2 0.6 88.3 FraGA1 12.6 0.3 2.6 84.5 WcoGA1 9 0.4 0.5 90.1

Example 5 Glucogenic Activity on Starch Liquefact of Glucoamylases Measured at Low pH

The glucoamylases FraGA1, WcoGA1, TrGA and AnGA were evaluated on starch liquefact to measure their glucogenic activity and DP3 and DP3+ hydrolysis at low pH. The pH of corn starch liquefact (32% ds, alpha-amylase-pretreated) was adjusted to pH 3.0. The above substrate (10 g) and the glucoamylases (dosed at 0.25 mg/gds) were incubated at 32° C. and 55° C., respectively. The reaction mixtures (100 μL) were incubated for 17, 24, 41, 48, 63, or 72 h, at which time the reactions were quenched by heating at 100° C. for 15 min. Following centrifugation, supernatants were transferred to new containers and diluted 400-fold in 5 mM H₂SO₄ for HPLC analysis using the same conditions as described above in EXAMPLE 4. The values reported in Table 4 are the peak area percentages of each DPn as a fraction of the total DP1, DP2, DP3, and DP3+. The results in Table 4 show that FraGA1 and WcoGA1 exhibited higher glucogenic activity and faster DP3+ hydrolysis than TrGA and AnGA when dosed at equal protein amount (0.25 mg/gds) and incubated at 32° C. at pH 3. When the incubation temperature was increased to 55° C., WcoGA1 and FraGA1 hydrolyzed DP3+ very efficiently, with only 3%, 4% and 5% DP3+ remaining after a 17 h incubation, respectively, while 18% and 13% remained in TrGA and AnGA reactions, respectively.

FraGA1, WcoGA1, TrGA and AnGA were further evaluated for activity towards starch liquefact at pH 2.0. The incubation procedure was the same as described above except that the enzymes were dosed at 0.2 mg/gds and incubations were carried out at pH 2.0. Samples were collected at 4, 21, 29, 45, 53, and 70 h. At pH 2, FraGA1 and WcoGA1 greatly outperformed TrGA and AnGA on DP3+ hydrolysis rate and final DP1 conversion as shown in Table 5. FraGA1 and WcoGA1 produced≥90% and ≥72% DP1 after a 70 h incubation at 32° C. and 55° C., respectively, while TrGA yielded only 54% and 3%. These results indicate that FraGA1 and WcoGA1 have high potential in saccharification and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process, with significant activity at pH 2.0-3.0 and 30-55° C.

TABLE 4 Relative hydrolysis at pH 3 by glucoamylases tested at 32° C. or 55° C. using starch liquefact as a substrate. Incubation Time Enzyme temp. (° C.) (h) DP3+ % DP3% DP2% DP1% AnGA 32 17 35.9 0.6 7.3 56.1 24 27.2 0.3 2.9 69.5 41 19.2 0.5 1.0 79.3 48 16.9 0.5 1.1 81.4 63 14.5 0.0 1.3 84.2 72 12.7 0.4 1.3 85.6 TrGA 32 17 36.9 1.2 6.1 55.8 24 24.7 0.6 3.9 70.8 41 20.9 0.6 1.5 77.1 48 18.2 0.5 1.5 79.8 63 15.2 0.2 1.6 82.9 72 14.3 0.4 1.7 83.6 FraGA1 32 17 12.5 0.5 2.1 84.8 24 6.5 0.4 2.5 90.6 41 4.1 0.4 4.1 91.4 48 4.6 0.0 4.6 90.8 63 3.2 0.0 6.0 90.8 72 3.7 0.6 6.3 89.4 WcoGA1 32 17 20.3 0.7 1.9 77.2 24 13.2 0.5 1.7 84.6 41 8.0 0.2 2.3 89.5 48 7.5 0.4 2.8 89.4 63 4.9 0.2 3.4 91.4 72 4.6 0.0 3.6 91.8 AnGA 55 17 13.0 0.4 1.7 84.9 24 9.1 0.3 2.0 88.6 41 5.9 0.3 2.7 91.1 48 5.5 0.2 2.8 91.5 63 4.9 0.0 3.2 91.9 72 4.0 0.0 3.6 92.4 TrGA 55 17 18.1 0.6 2.6 78.7 24 14.2 0.5 2.3 83.1 41 9.7 0.4 2.7 87.3 48 8.9 0.4 2.7 88.0 63 7.2 0.0 3.0 89.8 72 6.7 0.2 3.1 89.9 FraGA1 55 17 3.9 0.6 6.2 89.2 24 1.6 0.8 8.2 89.4 41 1.6 1.3 10.9 86.2 48 1.9 1.5 11.6 85.0 63 2.0 0.0 12.8 85.2 72 1.9 1.7 12.9 83.5 WcoGA1 55 17 3.2 0.5 4.5 91.9 24 2.1 0.6 5.9 91.4 41 2.0 0.9 8.2 88.8 48 2.2 1.1 9.1 87.6 63 2.1 0.0 10.7 87.2 72 1.9 1.5 10.9 85.8

TABLE 5 Relative hydrolysis at pH 2 by glucoamylases tested at 32° C. or 55° C. using starch liquefact as a substrate. Incubation Time Enzyme temp. (° C) (h) DP3+ % DP3% DP2% DP1% AnGA 32 4 75.6 8.3 4.5 11.5 21 35.8 2.2 12.5 49.5 29 33.1 0.0 9.9 57.0 45 26.1 0.0 3.6 70.3 53 23.8 0.2 2.0 74.0 70 21.2 0.3 1.2 77.3 TrGA 32 4 77.7 7.7 4.5 10.1 21 48.5 6.2 10.1 35.2 29 44.1 4.2 11.1 40.6 45 36.6 1.9 12.2 49.3 53 35.3 1.3 12.0 51.5 70 33.5 0.9 11.6 54.0 FraGA1 32 4 52.2 8.0 7.7 32.2 21 17.3 0.6 3.8 78.3 29 13.4 0.6 2.4 83.5 45 8.1 0.0 2.4 89.5 53 6.5 0.0 2.6 90.9 70 3.9 0.2 3.3 92.6 WcoGA1 32 4 53.9 7.8 8.5 29.8 21 20.1 0.6 3.1 76.2 29 16.1 0.6 2.0 81.2 45 11.7 0.3 2.0 86.1 53 10.5 0.2 2.2 87.1 70 7.8 0.0 2.6 89.5 AnGA 55 4 44.5 5.2 10.5 39.8 21 32.4 1.4 11.6 54.6 29 34.1 1.3 11.4 53.2 45 31.5 1.3 11.6 55.6 53 31.9 1.3 11.4 55.4 70 32.9 1.3 11.4 54.4 TrGA 55 4 87.3 6.1 3.6 3.0 21 87.2 5.9 3.8 3.2 29 87.2 6.0 3.7 3.1 45 86.6 6.0 3.9 3.4 53 86.9 6.1 3.8 3.2 70 87.1 6.0 3.7 3.2 FraGA1 55 4 25.0 0.7 10.0 64.3 21 18.0 0.6 4.9 76.5 29 16.7 0.6 4.6 78.0 45 16.4 0.6 4.4 78.6 53 17.1 0.7 4.4 77.9 70 16.0 0.7 4.3 79.0 WcoGA1 55 4 26.2 0.6 9.1 64.1 21 22.7 0.7 5.6 71.0 29 21.5 0.6 5.6 72.3 45 21.0 0.6 5.6 72.8 53 22.5 0.6 5.6 71.3 70 21.5 0.6 5.6 72.2

Example 6 Evaluation of Glucoamylases on Saccharification at pH 3.5 and 4.5

The saccharification performance of FraGA1 and WcoGA1 and AnGA was evaluated at traditional pH 4.5 condition, and a lower pH, 3.5. DP1 production was measured by analyzing sugar composition after treatment with equal enzyme dosage. The incubations of glucoamylases (dosed at 50 μg/gds) and alpha-amylase-pretreated corn starch liquefact (32% ds) were performed at 60° C., pH 3.5 and 4.5, and samples were collected at 24, 48, and 72 h. All incubations were quenched by heating at 100° C. for 15 min. Following centrifugation, supernatants from each sample were transferred to new tubes and diluted 400-fold in 5 mM H₂SO₄ for HPLC analysis. HPLC separation was performed using an Agilent 1200 series HPLC system with a Fast fruit column (100 mm×7.8 mm) at 80° C. with an isocratic gradient of 5 mM H₂SO₄ at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The oligosaccharide products were detected using a refractive index detector. The glucogenic activities of the samples are summarized in Table 6. The DP1 production by FraGA1 and WcoGA1 at pH 3.5 after 48 h incubation was comparable to results using AnGA at pH 4.5 after a 72 h incubation.

TABLE 6 Sugar composition analysis of corn starch liquefact treated with FraGA1, WcoGA1 or AnGA at 60° C., at pH 3.5 or 4.5 for 24, 48 or 72 h. pH Time Sample DP3+ % DP3% DP2% DP1% 3.5 24 h AnGA 27.7 2.1 7.7 62.5 FraGA1 10.0 0.8 3.5 85.7 WcoGA1 13.6 0.8 3.9 81.7 48 h AnGA 15.7 0.8 1.5 82.0 FraGA1 4.0 0.5 4.2 91.4 WcoGA1 5.2 0.4 3.6 90.8 72 h AnGA 13.8 1.1 2.8 82.3 FraGA1 2.5 0.7 5.4 91.3 WcoGA1 3.0 0.7 5.0 91.3 4.5 24 h AnGA 19.5 2.2 11.0 67.3 FraGA1 11.8 1.2 4.7 82.3 WcoGA1 11.2 1.1 3.8 84.0 48 h AnGA 8.5 1.4 1.7 88.4 FraGA1 5.6 0.8 3.7 90.0 WcoGA1 4.9 0.7 3.4 91.0 72 h AnGA 5.0 1.3 2.2 91.5 FraGA1 3.7 0.9 4.7 90.6 WcoGA1 2.5 0.8 4.6 92.1

Example 7 Stability of FraGA1 and WcoGA1 Under Ruminant Digestion Conditions

The stability of FraGA1 and WcoGA1 enzymes was measured at pH 2.2, 5.6 and 6.5 under ruminant digestion conditions in vitro as described below.

Assay conditions at pH 5.6: The reaction mixture contained 1 mL of rumen fluid collected from local dairy cows (Foulum, Denmark), having a measured pH of 5.6 and 20 μL of glucoamylase (the protein concentration of FraGA1 was 5 mg/mL and the protein concentration of WcoGA1 was 6.5 mg/mL). The reaction mixtures were maintained at 40° C. for 10 h with shaking at 100 rpm. A reaction mixture kept at 5° C. served as control; for blank, no enzymes were added. Each enzyme treatment or blank was performed in triplicate. At the end of the incubation period, 0.5 mL of 10% (w/w) corn starch (Sigma, S-4126) was added and the samples were further incubated for 140 min at 40° C. and with shaking at 240 rpm. The percent (%) residual activity was calculated as follows: activity after incubation with enzyme at 40° C. minus the blank, divided by the activity after incubation with enzyme at 5° C. minus the blank, multiplied by 100.

Assay conditions at pH 6.5: The conditions were the same as described above of pH 5.6, except that pH was adjusted to pH 6.5 and DTT was added to 20 mM.

Assay conditions at pH 2.2: Rumen fluid that was frozen after collection was then thawed and centrifuged prior to use. The supernatant was discarded and the precipitate was suspended in purified water at a ratio (precipitate vs. water) of 1:3. The pH of suspended slurry was adjusted to pH 2.2. Aliquots of 0.6 mL were added to 2 mL tubes containing 0.4 mL pepsin (2500 U pepsin/mL, Sigma P7000) in 60 mM glycine-HCl (pH2.0) and 20 μL each of glucoamylases (the protein concentration of FraGA1 was 5 mg/mL and the protein concentration of WcoGA1 was 6.5 mg/mL). The reaction mixtures were incubated at 40° C. for 3 h with shaking at 100 rpm. At the end of the incubation, 0.5 mL of 15% (w/w) corn starch (Sigma, S-4126) suspended in 250 mM IVIES pH 6.5 was added and samples were incubated for 3 h at 40° C. The percent (%) residual activity was calculated as follows: activity after incubation with enzyme at 40° C. minus the blank, divided by the activity without pre-incubation (control) minus blank, multiplied by 100.

At the end of each reaction, the assay tubes were centrifuged and supernatants were transferred to PCR plates and heat-treated at 95° C. for 5 min. Samples in the heat-treated PCR tubes were run over 96 well filter plates, and 10 μL aliquots of each filtrate were used to quantify glucose content by HPLC using a BioRad carbohydrate column (Aminex HPX-87N) and water as the eluent, at 75° C. Glucose content was used as a measure of glucoamylase activity on starch substrate. As shown on Table 7, it was observed that the glucoamylases FraGA1 and WcoGA1 retained 60-70% residual activity after incubations at 40° C. at pH5.6 and at pH 6.5 after 10 h. It was also observed that following incubation in the presence of swine pepsin at pH 2.2 and 40° C. for 3 h, these two glucoamylases retained approximately 90% activity.

TABLE 7 Residual activity (percent remaining) of FraGA1 and WcoGA1 glucoamylases under ruminant digestion conditions measured on corn starch. 40° C. 40° C. 40° C. and and and pH2.2, 3 h in the Gluco- pH5.6, pH6.5 presence of amylases 10 h 10 h pepsin FraGA1 64% 73% 94% WcoGA1 68% 68% 89%

Example 8

Stability and Activity of FraGA1 and WcoGA1 Under Small Intestinal Digestion Conditions

In order to simulate small intestinal digestion conditions, one portion rumen fluid was mixed with two portions of artificial rumen fluid according to protocol described by Menke and Steingass (Liu, J. X., A. Susenbeth, and K. H. Südekum. 2002. In vitro gas production measurements to evaluate interactions between untreated and chemically treated rice straws, grass hay, and mulberry leaves. Journal of Animal Science 80:517-524). Corn flour was added to a final concentration of 10% (w/w) and adjusted to pH 6.5. One mL of this mixture was mixed with 504, of porcine pancreatin (Sigma, P7545, 50 mg/mL pancreatin stock solution) and 154, of a glucoamylase sample (0.08 mg FraGA1 or 0.10 mg WcoGA). For Blank sample, neither pancreatin nor the glucoamylase was added. The reactions were carried out 40° C. for 3 h with shaking at 240 rpm. The reaction mixtures were then centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 10 min and 1504, of supernatant were transferred to a PCR plate and heated at 95° C. for 5 min. 504, aliquots were transferred to a 0.45 μm filter plate and 904, water was added and the plate was centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 15 min. The filtrate was analyzed for glucose (G1), maltose (G2) and maltotriose (G3) content by HPLC as described in Example 7. Each treatment or blank reaction was performed in triplicate and the average of the values is reported on Table 8. Std. dev means standard deviation.

TABLE 8 Release of glucose (G1), maltose (G2) and maltotriose (G3) from corn flour by glucoamylase FraGA1 and WcoGA1 and their mixture with porcine pancreatin. G1 peak G2 peak G3 area Std. area Std. peak area Std. Treatment average dev average dev average dev Blank (no enzyme) 5.7 0.38 9.4 0.48 2.2 0.17 Porcine pancreatin 10.8 1.47 30.1 5.68 11.7 3.05 FraGA1 12.2 0.10 6.2 0.08 0 0 WcoGA1 17.7 1.72 2.9 0.39 0.3 0.04 FraGA1 + pancreatin 24.7 1.58 39.4 1.08 4.0 1.91 WcoGA1 + pancreatin 36.1 0.98 30.4 0.25 3.4 0.49

As shown on Table 8, porcine pancreatin releases glucose, maltose and maltotriose from the corn flour. Both FraGA1 and WcoGA1 enzymes release glucose from raw starch in the corn flour. WcoGA1 was also capable of reducing the level of maltose under the experimental conditions. A combination of the glucoamylases with the pancreatin generates glucose, maltose and reduces the maltotriose. These results suggest that the glucoamylases can work together with the alpha-amylase present in pancreatin even in the presence of digestive proteases present in porcine pancreatin (as reported by the manufacturer). In vivo, the glucose generated could be absorbed directly by the animal, while the maltose formed could be converted to glucose by the brush border bound maltase-glucoamylase on the epithelial cells of the small intestine. The corn flour made from corn dent had the following composition: 88.2% dry matter, 9.3% crude protein, 2.0% acid detergent fiber, 6.6% neutral detergent fiber treated with amylase, 78.5% non-fibrous carbohydrates, and 89.0% total digestible nutrients, and was ground to less than 200 μm.

Example 9 FraGA1 to Increase Dry Matter Digestion and Gas Production in the Ruminal Fermentation on Corn

The effects of FraGA1 were evaluated on dry matter digestibility (DMD), gas production, starch digestibility and pH in an in vitro batch fermentation system using dent corn as substrate (4 mm ground). The efficacy of FraGA1 was evaluated at three doses (0, 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 mg/g of substrate as fed basis) in three separate runs with four replications per enzyme-dose combination in each run. The effectiveness of each enzyme was determined on the rumen fermentation pattern after incubation of buffered rumen contents with substrate in a fermentation setup described earlier (Adesogan, A. T., Krueger, N. K., and Kim, S. C. 2005. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 123: 211-223; Krueger, N. A., and A. T. Adesogan. 2008. Anim. Feed Sci. Tech. 145: 84-94; Goering, H. K. and P. J. Van Soest. 1970. Agric. Handbook No. 379. ARS USDA, Washington, D.C., pp. 20). The composition of the dent corn used in this in vitro batch fermentation system was given in Example 8. Samples of 0.5 g of dent corn, ground to 4 mm, were weighed into 4 replicate F57 filter bags (ANKOM Technology, Macedon, N.Y.). The enzyme FraGA1 was prepared in 0.1 M citrate-phosphate buffer (pH 6.0) and added onto the ground dent corn in the filter bags at 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 mg enzyme protein per gram substrate. The filter bags were then sealed with an Uline Tabletop Poly Bag Sealer (Impulse® type AIE-200) and immediately placed in 160 mL serum bottles containing buffered rumen fluid (52 mL). Blank bottles containing only a filter bag, as well as controls containing only ground dent corn with no enzyme beside the buffered rumen fluid were also included. The bottles were then closed with rubber stoppers and sealed with aluminum seals. They were incubated for 7 h at 39° C. in a forced-air incubator. At the end of incubation, the filter bags containing the residues of the dent corn were oven-dried at 60° C. for 48 h and weighed in order to quantify DMD. The gas pressure within the bottles was measured with a pressure transducer and posteriorly converted to gas volume after the 7 h incubation. The following formula was used for the conversion of gas pressure to gas volume: Gas volume (mL)=(Gas pressure (psi)*4.8843)+3.1296. The equation was formulated based on the experimental conditions.

Preparation of the buffered rumen fluid was as follows: ruminal fluid was aspirated from three lactating, ruminally-cannulated Holstein dairy cows 2 to 3 h after consuming total mixed ration (TMR). The TMR ingredient composition fed to the ruminally-cannulated dairy cows based on dry matter consisted of: 38.2% corn silage, 27.3% ground shelled corn, 14.5% soybean meal with 44% crude protein, 9.1% citrus pulp, 4.5% Feedlot premix, 4.0% alfalfa hay mid bloom, 1.8% energy booster (MS Specialty Nutrition, Dundee, Ill.), and 0.5% Novasil (BASF, Germany). The rumen fluid collected was filtered through four layers of cheesecloth prior to mixing with pre-warmed artificial saliva (39° C.). The composition of the artificial saliva included a micromineral solution of CaCl₂.2H₂O, MnCl₂.4H₂O, COCl₂.6H₂O, FeCl₂.6H₂O; a macromineral solution of Na₂HPO₄.12H₂O, KH₂PO₄, MgSO₄.7H₂O; a buffer solution of (NH₄)₂HCO₃ and NaHCO₃; a trypticase peptone solution (tryptone, Sigma-Aldrich, St Louise, Mo., USA); oxidation-reduction indicator resazurin and a reducing solution containing cysteine HCl, 1 M NaOH, Na₂S.9H₂O and distilled water (Goering, H. K. and P. J. Van Soest. 1970. Agric. Handbook No. 379. ARS USDA, Washington, D.C., pp. 20). The volume ratio between the rumen fluid and the artificial saliva was 1:2.

Statistical analysis: For all the experiments in Example 9, the data collected were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS (version 9.1; SAS Institute, Cary, N.C.). Experiments were designed as completely randomized block design where each run was considered a block. Dose was used as fixed effect in the model when enzymes were tested at different doses. Response variable included in-vitro DMD and gas production. Run was considered a random factor. Fixed effects of the model included sampling time for the fermentation parameters measured at different times post-incubation. The UNIVARIATE procedure of SAS was used to test the residuals for outliers and normality before the final analyses were performed. Treatment effects were declared significant at P<0.05 while any trends were defined at 0.05≤P≤0.10.

Results: The results shown in Table 9 below indicate that under in vitro rumen fermentation conditions described herein, the glucoamylase FraGA1 increased DMD and gas production in a dose dependent manner. There is a tendency of increased starch digestibility at dose of 0, 0.25 and 0.5 mg enzyme protein per gram ground dent corn. The pH was quite constant irrespective of the enzyme dosages.

TABLE 9 In-vitro responses to exogenous FraGA1 enzyme tested at various doses on drymatter digestibility, gas production, pH levels, and starch digestibility using dent corn grain as substrate. mg/mL FraGA1 Variables 0 0.25 0.50 0.75 SE P-value DMD, % 13.9 ^(b) 17.3 ^(a) 18.1 ^(a) 18.5 ^(a) 0.62 <0.01 Gas production, 8.77 ^(b) 12.1 ^(a) 11.8 ^(a) 12.7 ^(a) 0.52 <0.01 mL pH 6.67 6.79 7.02 6.64 0.14 0.21 Starch 21.4 23.7 27.0 23.7 2.27 0.39 digestibility, % ^(a-b) Means within a row with different superscripts differ (P < 0.05).

Example 10 Protein Sequence Comparisons

Related proteins were identified by a BLAST search (Altschul et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 25:3389-402, 1997) using the predicted mature amino acid sequences for FraGA1 (SEQ ID NO: 7), WcoGA1 (SEQ ID NO: 8) and TeGA (SEQ ID NO: 9) against NCBI and Genome Quest Patent databases with search parameters set to default values and a subset are shown on Tables 10A and 10B (FraGA1), Tables 11A and 11B (WcoGA1) and Tables 12A and 12B (TeGA) respectively. Percent identity (PID) for both search sets is defined as the number of identical residues divided by the number of aligned residues in the pairwise alignment. Value labeled “Sequence length” on tables corresponds to the length (in amino acids) for the proteins referenced with the listed Accession numbers, while “Aligned length” refers to sequence used for alignment and PID calculation.

TABLE 10A List of sequences with percent identity to FraGA1 predicted mature protein identified from the NCBI non- redundant protein database Se- Align- quence ment Accession # PID Organism Length Length XP_012178139 100% Fibroporia radiculosa 567 551 XP_  80% Postia placenta 569 552 002475369.1 Mad-698-R PCH39892.1  80% Wolfiporia cocos 569 MD-104 SS10 554 BAE47183.1  77% Fomitopsis palustris 570 552 KZT67263.1  77% Daedalea quercina 571 553 L-15889 EPS97511.1  76% Fomitopsis pinicola 570 554 FP-58527 SS1 OCH90932.1  74% Obba rivulosa 573 556

TABLE 10B List of sequences with percent identity to FraGA1 predicted mature protein identified from Genome Quest database Align. GQ Identifier PID Organism Length length US20090325240-1847 76.7 Fomitopsis palustris 570 554 KR834708-AUZ02575 74.9 Fomitopsis palustris 550 534 WO2014177541 72.8 Trametes cingulata 556 555 (multiple sequences) synthetic WO2016196202-0012 72.6 Pyrococcus furiosus 556 555 US20170314003-0002 72.1 Nigrofomes sp. 575 556 US20080318284-0005 72.0 Trametes cingulata 561 560 WO2015065871- 71.6 Trametes cingulata 561 560 BBZ68582

TABLE 11A List of sequences with percent identity to WcoGA1 predicted mature protein identified from the NCBI non-redundant protein database Se- Align- quence ment Accession # PID Organism Length Length PCH39892.1 100% Wolfiporia cocos 569 552 MD-104 SS10 XP_  82% Postia placenta Mad- 569 551 002475369.1 698-R XP_  80% Fibroporia radiculosa 567 554 012178139.1 BAE47183.1  80% Fomitopsis palustris 570 552 EPS97511.1  79% Fomitopsis pinicola 570 552 FP-58527 SS1 KZT67263.1  79% Daedalea quercina 571 553 L-15889 KZT09226.1  76% Laetiporus sulphureus 570 554 93-53 OCH90932.1  71% Obba rivulosa 573 556

TABLE 11B List of sequences with percent identity to WcoGA1 predicted mature protein identified from Genome Quest database Align. GQ Identifier PID Organism Length length US20090325240- 80.1% Fomitopsis palustris 570 554 1847 KR834708- 78.0 Fomitopsis palustris 550 532 AUZ02575 WO2014177541 72.2 Trametes cingulata 556 555 (multiple sequences) synthetic WO2016196202- 72.1 Pyrococcus furiosus 556 555 0012 US20080318284- 71.4 Trametes cingulata 561 560 0005 US20170314003- 71.0 Nigrofomes sp. 575 556 0002

TABLE 12A List of sequences with percent identity to TeGA predicted mature protein identified from the NCBI non-redundant protein database Se- Align- quence ment Accession # PID Organism Length Length CAC28076.1 99% Rasamsonia emersonii 618 590 XP_ 93% Rasamsonia emersonii 617 590 013329152.1 CBS 393.64 GAD95639.1 75% Byssochlamys spectabilis 622 591 No.5 KUL85250.1 71% Talaromyces verruculosus 616 595 GAM40728.1 70% Talaromyces cellulolyticus 616 595

TABLE 12B List of sequences with percent identity to TeGA predicted mature protein identified from Genome Quest database Align. GQ Identifier PID Organism Length length WO2015065871- 100 Rasamsonia 591 591 0007 emersonii KR1020010032489- 99.83 Talaromyces 591 591 0007 emersonii WO2014060474- 99.66 Talaromyces 593 593 0002 emersonii EP1951867-0001 99.49 Rasamsonia 591 591 emersonii CN101310016- 99.32 Talaromyces 591 591 0001 emersonii KR834708- 97.71 Talaromyces 595 568 AUZ02577 emersonii US20170306309-0023 94.57 Talaromyces sp 588 589 WO2013189878-0024 94.42 Rasamsonia 617 591 emersonii WO2014202616-31996 94.42 Rasamsonia 597 591 emersonii CN103667212- 72.44 Talaromyces 616 595 BBF78214 funiculosus WO0075296-0002 72.32 Thermoascus 624 596 crustaceus

An alignment of the predicted mature sequences of FraGA1 (SEQ ID NO: 7); WcoGA1 (SEQ ID NO: 8); TeGA (SEQ ID NO: 9); AnGA (aa 25-640 of XP_001390530.1, SEQ ID NO: 10); TrGA (2VN4 A, SEQ ID NO: 11); KZT67263.1 (aa 19-571 of SEQ ID NO: 12); XP_002475369.1 (aa 18-569 of SEQ ID NO: 13); US20090325240-1847 (aa 17-570 of SEQ ID NO: 14); KZT09226.1 (aa 18-570 of SEQ ID NO: 15); WO2016196202-0012 (SEQ ID NO: 16); US20170314003-0002 (aa 19-575 of SEQ ID NO: 17); GAD95639.1 (aa 38-622 of SEQ ID NO: 18); US20170306309-0023 (SEQ ID NO: 19); and CAC28076.1 (aa 29-618 of SEQ ID NO: 20) was performed with default parameters using CLUSTALW software (Thompson et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 22:4673-4680, 1994). The multiple sequence alignment is shown on FIG. 1.

Example 11 Relative Activity of Glucoamylases at pH 1.9, 4.5 and 6.0

Glucose release from corn starch substrate was measured for the glucoamylases FraGA1 and WcoGA1 under conditions that mimicked those experienced in the ruminant digestive system. Each reaction mixture contained 0.1 mg of purified enzyme and 10% (w/v) corn starch (Sigma S-4126) in a 1 mL volume. For the pH 1.9 reactions, 0.1M glycine-HCl (pH 1.9) was used as diluent, and the reactions also contained 1000 units of porcine pepsin (Sigma P-7000). For the pH 4.5 reactions, the pH of 0.1M glycine was adjusted to 4.5 using 5N NaOH and pepsin was omitted. For the pH 6.0 reactions, 0.1M Mes-NaOH (pH6.0) was used as diluent and pepsin was omitted.

The reactions were carried out at 40° C. with shaking for 2 h. Samples were centrifuged to separate the supernatant and unreacted corn starch granules. The supernatant was heated at 99° C. for 10 min, filtered and 20 μl of filtrate was injected onto an HPLC using Na-Carbohydrate column to separate and quantify glucose generated using a glucose standard at 1 mg/mL.

The results of the reactions are shown in Table 13. The glucose release activity is expressed as mg glucose released per mL reaction. Both glucoamylases showed highest activity at pH4.5 relative to pH1.9 and 6.0. It was surprisingly found that both glucoamylases showed activity at pH1.9 in the presence of pepsin, and this activity at pH1.9 was more than 80% of the activity at pH6.0.

TABLE 13 Relative activity of Glucoamylases on corn starch substrate FraGA1 WcoGA1 Activity at pH 1.9 with  5.70 ± 0.08  4.40 ± pepsin Activity at pH 4.5 13.27 ± 0.09 13.47 ± 0.16 Activity at pH 6.0  4.48 ± 0.06  4.88 ± 0.11 Ratio of activity at pH 1.9 vs 1.27 0.90 pH 6.0 

1-16. (canceled)
 17. A method for increasing starch digestibility in an animal which comprises adding at least one glucoamylase selected from the group consisting of: a) a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8; b) a polypeptide having at least 83% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8; c) a polypeptide having at least 83% identity to a catalytic domain of SEQ ID NO: 8; d) a mature polypeptide produced by the processing of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 by a signal peptidase or post translational modification during secretion from an expression host; as a feed additive or premix to feed for an animal wherein said glucoamylase (a) has at least 20% activity or at least 20% greater residual activity at pH less than or equal to 3 in the presence of pepsin or rumin fluid as compared to activity of the glucoamylase at pH 6 alone or in the presence of rumin fluid, and (b) the glucoamylase works with pancreatic amylase to increase glucose yield.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein when the animal is a ruminant and said glucoamylase is active in at least two of three digestive chambers of the ruminant comprising a rumen, an abomasum and a small intestine.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein said at least one glucoamylase is capable of hydrolyzing raw starch as measured in a glucose release assay using raw starch. 20-29. (canceled)
 30. The method of claim 18, wherein the ruminant is a cow.
 31. The method of claim 17, further comprising admixing the feed additive or premix with a feed component to form a feedstuff.
 32. The method of claim 31, further comprising feeding said feedstuff to the animal.
 33. The method of claim 17, wherein the feed additive or premix further comprises one or more direct fed microbial.
 34. The method of claim 33, wherein said direct fed microbial comprises one or more of Bacillus, lactic acid bacteria, and/or yeasts.
 35. The method of claim 17, wherein the feed additive or premix further comprises one or more enzymes selected from the group consisting of aminopeptidase, amylase, carbohydrase, carboxypeptidase, catalase, cellulase, chitinase, cutinase, cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase, deoxyribonuclease, esterase, alpha-galactosidase, beta-galactosidase, alpha-glucosidase, beta-glucosidase, beta-amylase, isoamylase, haloperoxidase, invertase, laccase, lipase, lysozyme, mannosidase, oxidase, pectinolytic enzyme, peptidoglutaminase, peroxidase, phytase, polyphenoloxidase, proteolytic enzyme, pullulanase, ribonuclease, transglutaminase, and/or xylanase.
 36. The method of claim 31, wherein the feed component comprises one or more of cereals, wheat, barley, rye, oats, maize, sorghum, corn gluten meal, Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS), corn based Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (cDDGS), wheat bran, wheat middlings, wheat shorts, rice bran, rice hulls, oat hulls, palm kernel, and/or citrus pulp.
 37. The method of claim 31, wherein the feed component comprises one or more protein obtained from soya, sunflower, peanut, lupin, peas, fava beans, cotton, canola, fish meal, dried plasma protein, meat and bone meal, potato protein, whey, copra, and/or sesame.
 38. The method of claim 31, the feed component comprises one or more oils and/or fats obtained from vegetable and/or animal sources. 